AN ARTIST has donated some of her work to help protect the landscape which inspires her.

Phyllis Wolff has given an oil painting to Dorset Wildlife Trust, to be auctioned off in aid of the charity.

An online auction opened on Monday (aprl 3) and people have two weeks to place their bid.

Phyllis was inspired to donate a painting to DWT after receiving the 2016 Hedgerow appeal letter, on the same day as the birth of her fourth grandchild.

She said: “It struck me forcibly that I wanted this new baby, my other grandchildren, and all our grandchildren to live in a world where hedgerows and the wildlife they support are still the norm, not something unusual.

"My boys grew up in fields and woods around our house, damming streams and building tree houses – they now visit those places with their children, I want this to continue for the children of the future.”

Since moving to Dorset in 1976, Phyllis has built a reputation as an important artist, represented in private and public collections, as well as exhibiting widely in galleries in the UK and abroad. She was educated at Goldsmiths’ College, St Martin’s School of Art and Byam Shaw School of Art.

Phyllis added: “I hope the proceeds from the auction of this painting will go some way towards encouraging children’s natural connection with nature – which is a big part of DWT’s work.”

DWT fundraising and retail manager Fiona Sansom said: “We are very grateful to Phyllis for donating this fantastic painting to DWT. The colours and texture of her paintings really capture Dorset’s landscape and we’re looking forward to giving our conservation and engagement work a boost with the money raised from the auction.”

Phyllis Wolff has donated ‘Midsummer Hill’ (Melbury) II oil canvas (40cm – 60cm) which includes a bespoke handmade frame by *pictureframes.co.uk (worth £350), which is uniquely compliant with the Forestry Stewardship Council.

To find out more about the painting and to place a bid, visit phylliswolff.co.uk/dwt-melbury