Valuable painting up for auction at Norfolk Show Ball for NARS charity

Artist Gerard Stamp at work in his Gunton Park studio. Picture: PAUL HURST (Image: Archant)

Gerard Stamp's works are in prestigious private collections including those of the Queen and Dame Judi Dench, as well as in public forums such as Norwich Castle Art Gallery.

Now Mr Stamp has given one of his distinctive works, with an estimated value of more than £4,000, to be auctioned at the Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) ball on June 24.

NARS provides voluntary critical care services at the scene of life-threatening accidents and other medical emergencies. The charity relies entirely on fund-raising and donations and the Norfolk Show Ball will be its biggest fund-raising event this year, attracting up to 800 people to a black-tie dinner.

The ball takes place on June 24 at the Norfolk Showground and will feature four courses of fine dining and varied live entertainment.

Artist Gerard Stamp's Gunton Park studio. Picture: PAUL HURST (Image: Archant)

The paintings of Mr Stamp, who has a studio on the Gunton Park estate, between Cromer and North Walsham, reflect his lifelong love for medieval architecture.

He has donated a watercolour called Out of Bounds to Troops which captures a view of St Andrew's Church in the deserted village of Tottington, north of Thetford, which is in the STANTA training area.

In 1942, the British army evacuated 30,000 acres of Norfolk, including Tottington and five other villages, to create a battle training area before the D-Day invasion.

The villagers were never able to return, and the army still occupies the site.

St Andrew's is one of four surviving churches in the area, seemingly untouched for 70 years.

? Tickets, at £75 per head, for the NARS Norfolk Show Ball can be reserved by phoning 01603 757658 or emailing bookings@softleyevents.co.uk