Artist Sheryll Fox who auctioned a painting to help the Royal British Legion has thanked supporters for helping her raise £394.

The full-time artist, whose grandfather Gordon Hickmott received an MBE for his role in planning transport for D-Day, began a fundraising project to highlight the effect of the Covid pandemic on the charity’s ability to sell Remembrance Day poppies.

She said: “I’m really delighted at how the project went. Normally for me on Remembrance Sunday I put a pound or two in a pot, wear a poppy and maybe go to a service. But it has been really nice to be part of a community of people who’ve supported this.”

Sheryll, of Wanborough, auctioned a painting of a giant poppy, which received seven bids and was sold for £251.

She donated £1 from each participant’s fees for her virtual acrylic painting classes. Two of her students sold their paintings, donating the money to the Legion as well.

“It’s great to know there are people out there who liked the painting and wanted to support the charity, Sheryll added. “For me that sense of community and being able to raise a reasonable sum was just really rewarding.”