Industry trainer Julian O’Dell has raised £5,000 after rediscovering his artistic talents.

His drawings of well-known people have been sold over the last few months in aid of cancer charity Macmillan.

Julian’s wife Caterina has cancer. She, like Julian, was a partner at Thomas Morris estate agents until earlier this year.

Julian, who had not picked up a pencil for 25 years, does not put a price on his sketches but asks people to set the size of their own donations to Macmillan.

Julian now tells us that he has raised over £3,000 from his JustGiving page plus £2,000 from his first “exhibition” at a Macmillan coffee morning.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be raising money for a cause that is dear to my heart.

“I love drawing the pictures. Thankfully people like them enough to buy them and Macmillan like getting the funds, so everyone’s a winner!”

Most of Julian’s drawings are of well-known people, including some that are specially commissioned.

Julian’s JustGiving page is here

exhibition