Seriously ill youngsters from Essex create art for virtual gallery
Everyone with work on display has a serious or life-limiting illness.
Rays of Sunshine is displaying artwork by seriously ill children in its Virtual Children’s Art Gallery.
Submitted by Rays of Sunshine
A children's charity has launched a virtual art gallery that displays bespoke artwork created by children who are all living with serious or life-limiting illnesses.
Rays of Sunshine, a children' charity based in London which brightens the lives of seriously ill children across the UK by granting wishes and providing ongoing support, opened the virtual gallery on March 1.
Created with Moyosa Media, the Rays of Sunshine’s Virtual Children’s Art Gallery aims to celebrate the bond between the charity and its beneficiaries as well as recognising the charity's patrons and supporters.
Each child has depicted their own interpretation of the theme 'sunshine, happiness and laughter' and many of the art pieces were created during creative workshops.
Lily, aged ten, from Purleigh, Essex, has Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and has endured gruelling chemotherapy treatment and bone marrow aspirations. In 2019, Rays of Sunshine granted her greatest wish to swim with dolphins at Disney Florida.
Her artwork ‘Rainbows in the Making’ is inspired by her love of art, magic, and sparkles.
Hope, aged 13 from Leigh-on-sea, Essex, has Global Development Delay, hypermobility and low muscle tone which resulted in physiotherapy and occupational therapy. In 2019, Rays of Sunshine granted Hope’s greatest wish to meet the famous girl band, Little Mix.
Her artwork ‘Hope’s Happiness’ is inspired by her wish, which she says was the best day of her life.
Arabella, aged nine and also from Leigh-on-sea, was diagnosed with Perinatal Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and Left Hemiplegia. She has endured physiotherapy, splints, and daily medications. In 2019, Rays of Sunshine granted her greatest wish to have her very own touchscreen laptop.
Her artwork is called ‘Happy People.’
Callum, aged ten, from Benfleet, Essex, has a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Cerebral Palsy and Chronic Lung Disease. In 2018, Rays of Sunshine granted Callum’s greatest wish to visit Disneyland Paris with his family.
His artwork ‘Cuba’ is inspired by his family holiday to Cuba.
Lindsey Bennister, chief executive officer of Rays of Sunshine, said: "We’re really excited to have launched the Rays of Sunshine Children’s Art Gallery filled with wonderful artwork by our beneficiaries.
"Every piece on display was created by a child living with a serious or life-limiting illness and the result is a collection of art as unique and inspiring as the children themselves.
"During the pandemic, Rays of Sunshine has been committed to continuing to support families across the UK, and provide joy and hope, and this gallery is no exception. Bringing together the children and families via virtual art sessions has resulted in some incredible pieces of art, which we are very proud to display.
"We’re incredibly grateful and thankful to everyone who made this possible, including our generous sponsors, Moyosa Media and, of course, all our very talented artists."
The Rays of Sunshine Children’s Art Gallery is live now and can be viewed here.
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