Former teacher at Fife school auctioning off artwork for two charities

Art lovers are already bidding thousands of pounds to get their hands on ‘Clapping for our Carers’ by artist Jennifer Thomson, who taught in St Andrews before becoming a full-time artist.

Jennifer said the clapping inspired her to do a piece of work, but that she was not sure what it would be until she received a call from a friend.

She wrote on her website: “That night I got a message from my friend Nicky, a nurse in the Infectious Diseases Unit at The Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, who, by chance, had arrived home from work at exactly 8pm that evening.

“She told me about the emotional moment when she opened her car door to hear the amazing applause of appreciation from everyone in her neighbourhood. As I conjured up the scene in my head, the first spark of an idea for this painting was born.”

The painting will go to the highest bidder at noon today (Friday) with the money split between the two charities.

Jennifer lost her dad to dementia just over a year ago, and said she is “highly aware” and “extremely appreciative” of NHS workers.

She wrote: “Through my painting I hope to express a huge thank you to the NHS and all our caring heroes.”

Jennifer, whose work has been influenced by the East Neuk, often shows her art in Pittenweem and Elie.

The British Golf Museum in St Andrews also has a number of her works on show.

To find out more about the auction, visit her website – www.jenniferthomson.com/charity-auction.