An array of unique art pieces, including works by esteemed 19th and 20th Century artists and a specially commissioned piece depicting Glastonbury Abbey, will be auctioned in Glastonbury next month, with proceeds going to charity.

The event, organised by locals Gail Cornish and her husband Raymond, is set to take place at Glastonbury Town Hall on Saturday, May 11th.

The auction features 31 works by Joan Wills, Gail's late mother, and aims to support three charities: PromiseWorks, a Somerset-based charity offering mentorship to children and young people; Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, training dogs to support deaf individuals; and the Michael Varah Memorial Fund, which aids the rehabilitation of prisoners with a focus on arts projects at HMP Send women's prison in Surrey.

A highlight of the auction is a painting of Glastonbury Abbey by a former inmate of HMP Send, with a starting bid of £100.

The completed work of Glastonbury Abbey (measuring 40cm x 60cm) by a former prison inmate

Gail said: "This is an important auction of beautiful art raising money for three exceptionally worthy causes. May 11th should be a definite date in the diary for art lovers."

The auction will feature a variety of pieces, including oils with estimated values between £40-£60, pastel and pencil sketches ranging from £20-£50, and additional prints and woodcuts.

Among the standout pieces are three watercolours of Burmese landscapes by Maung Saya Saung, estimated to fetch between £500-£800.

Auctioneer Rachael Boothroyd-Walker, from Cooper and Tanner Salerooms in Frome, said: "I am delighted to be able to assist in the sale of this collection for such wonderful charities. There are some lovely pieces up for sale and a range of estimates to suit everyone's budget. We have high hopes for the sale, and hopefully, we will make lots of money for the charities."

Robert Peto, Chair of Promise/Works Board of Trustees, said: "PromiseWorks is delighted to be one of the recipients of the auction of paintings, which will be immensely important in its work with disadvantaged young people in Somerset." 

Sally Varah, Chair of the Michael Varah Memorial Fund, said: "It is a privilege to be associated with this auction of paintings by the late Joan Wills whose position as Vice President of The Society of Women Artists (SWA) has a special resonance for our own work facilitating prisoner rehabilitation through the creative arts, since the SWA has a long history of collaborating with charities to help the underprivileged and vulnerable."

Bruce Fogle MBE, co-founder of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said: "You may not have heard of us because we don't spend what we are given on TV ads asking for more money. We spend what you give us on training dogs to help deaf people. That's why we are so grateful to Gail Cornish for organising the auction of her mother's paintings at Glastonbury Town Hall on Saturday, May 11th, to support our charity. I hope to meet you there."

Gail said: "I wanted to highlight and raise money for lesser-known charities. Hearing Dogs is the biggest of the three, but all are deeply personal to me and my family."

Gail added: "Among the projects the Michael Varah Memorial Fund supports is the Our Time art project in Send Women's Prison. This holds a private view of the women's work every year, and the quality of the art is quite remarkable.

"Some of the women who have been released have become professional painters and take commissions, and I am including a painting from one of them."

The event promises to be a meaningful evening of art appreciation, charity support, and community involvement. Viewing begins at 5pm, with the auction starting at 7pm. For more details, interested parties can reach out to Gail Cornish directly - Penwood Farm, Woodlands, BA6 8LH Tel: 01458 850 630 Mob: 07775 897 888.