A CHESTER-BASED gallery has made a donation to a local hospice in memory of artist, Mary Eckersley. 

Art Box gave the £400 gift to The Hospice of the Good Shepherd to honour the artist's legacy and support the invaluable work that the hospice carries out in across the city.

Mary Eckersley, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 93, was self-taught and was originally from Manchester before settling in Hoole, Chester. Mary enrolled in The University of Wales, Glyndwr University, in Wrexham in 1996 aged 68, graduating three years later at the age of 71 with a Bachelor of Arts in Design.

Rick Nieto, owner of Art Box, said: "The Art Box team deeply values the contributions that local artists bring to the community. Mary Eckersley was an exceptional artist who enriched the cultural fabric of our city through her extraordinary talent and creativity.

We were proud to showcase Mary’s work during the latter months of 2023 and managed to sell a significant amount of Mary’s artwork. We were pleased to make the donation to The Hospice of the Good Shepherd, as it is a cause which held a special place in Mary’s heart."

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care to patients and their families. The donation made by Art Box will go towards supporting the hospice's various programmes and services, ensuring comfort and dignity for patients during their last stages.

Kelly Marks, community fundraiser for The Hospice of the Good Shepherd, said: "We would like to thank Rick, Liz and the team at Art Box for helping to raise £400 to support the Hospice through the sale of Mary’s pieces – and Mary’s family for allowing her artwork to appear in public. The donation will make a significant difference to our work here at The Hospice."

A prominent gallery located in Boughton, Art Box provides a platform for artists to showcase their talent, fostering a vibrant community of creators and enthusiasts.

For further information visit: www.artboxchester.co.uk.

For further information about The Hospice of the Good Shepherd and how you can contribute, visit: www.hospiceofthegoodshepherd.com.