A budding artist was refused a place at art college because he was colour blind.
But now the watercolour painter has helped raise a massive £300,000 to provide care for patients at a Kirklees hospice.
Mirfield artist Richard Gawthorpe, 69, is Kirkwood Hospice’s single biggest fundraiser since campaigners launched their bid to set up the site in 1981.
Richard, a former PE teacher who has been painting in his spare time all his life, was enlisted to produce two detailed paintings each year for the centre 20 years ago.
The paintings are then reproduced as greetings cards, which are sold to thousands of people in the centre and hospice charity shops.
He single-handedly generated £25,000 through sales for his painting Sunset at Castle Hill, which was put on sale in 2005.
Richard, who is registered as colour-blind, has also helped put on numerous exhibitions around the region and said that he was ‘astonished’ at the amount of money he had raised.
His efforts were celebrated by centre staff at a special event at the hospice in which his latest painting, Spring at Kirkwood Hospice, was hung.
Richard, of Northorpe Lane, said: “I never thought I would raise this much and am proud of the money my work has raised.
“I was first asked to produce several cards of Yorkshire scenes and organised an exhibition at The Media Centre in Huddersfield.
“I kept on painting for them and have really enjoyed working with all the staff over the years.
“I made it clear that I wanted all the money raised to go towards providing patient care and they have stuck to their word.
“I’m delighted with the outcome and it feels really fantastic.”
Richard, who was refused entry to art college because he was colourblind, also managed to obtain sponsorship for the production of the cards from local businesses, before Barclay’s Private Club founders Peter and Linda Barclay took over the role in 2005.
He said: “At first I had to go and beg companies for sponsorship but then it took off and I’m grateful to all the support Peter and Linda have given.”
Kirkwood Hospice fundraising manager, Marie Peacock, said: “Without his help we wouldn’t be able to provide the care we can and we are really appreciative of his work.”
He will exhibit and sell his latest work for the hospice at Northorpe Hall in Mirfield on March 29 and 30.
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