For once TV auctioneer Charles Hanson isn’t selling fine art, he’s creating it.
The star of Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip is picking up a paintbrush to decorate a giant gavel for charity.
Hansons is one of a number of auction houses taking part in the Gavel Art Trail which will see a dozens of decorated hammers on display around the UK. After they have been on show, the gavels will themselves go under the hammer to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity, National Brain Appeal and International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN).
Charles Hanson said: “It’s a real honour to support such worthy causes alongside our colleagues in the auction world. Hansons golden gavel is being painted by none other than me – an auctioneer turned artist.”
The completed Hansons gavel will be on display at Hansons Derbyshire saleroom in Etwall until October 31 before the charity auction on November 6.
Charles continued: “I’m proud to play a part in this initiative that blends art, community and charity. I can’t wait to share my painting journey with you and to see all the finished gavels come together at the auction in London later this year.”
The trail brings together 15 auction houses from across the UK, each sponsoring and decorating a metre-long supersized gavel – the ultimate symbol of the auction world.
The nationwide charity initiative is organised by the Bidpath Foundation in partnership with Wild in Art.
Bidpath, which provides software for auction houses, launched the charitable scheme after a colleague was diagnosed with a double brain tumour.
A spokesperson said: “Our hope is to bring together the art and auction communities in a national project that not only raises awareness and money for charities, but also gives sponsors a promotional opportunity and an opportunity to talk to their audiences in a different way.”
