To the Rescue: the print of Sarda dog Fly
An artistic hillwalker has produced a series of prints to raise funds for mountain rescue dogs.
Andy Beck, who has a gallery in County Durham, is offering a limited edition series of his painting of a Search and Rescue Dogs Association dog. To coincide with the artist’s participation in the Wainwright Society’s Lakeland 214 Challenge, he has produced 214 prints – the number of fells chronicled by the Grumpy Old Fellwalker in his pictorial guides.
The subject of the prints, produced using the giclee process for light-fastness, is Fly. Mr Beck explained: “I was fortunate to watch Fly at work on a training day last year on a wet afternoon near Grisedale Pike.
“He and his handler Mike Hadwin are just one of the dedicated volunteer teams who are on standby to assist in the search for those in need on the hill. Like the mountain rescue teams they are not Government-funded but rely purely on the donations from the public to provide this much needed service.”
Print number one of ‘To the Rescue’ has been signed by Julia Bradbury, presenter of the Wainwright’s Walks series and currently on the television undertaking the author’s Coast-to-Coast Walk. The print,
Julia Bradbury, currently on TV screens following Wainwright's Coast-to-Coast Walk
which also bears the signature of the Wainwright Society’s chairman Eric Robson, will be put up for auction on an Internet site.
The pictures are on sale for £17.50, of which £10 will be donated to Sarda.
Mr Beck, who runs the Teesdale Gallery in Barnard Castle, will climb Binsey, a 447m (1,457ft) peak on the northern fringe of the Lake District, as part of the Lakeland 214 Challenge, which takes place between Saturday 9 May and Sunday 17 May. The intention of the Wainwright Society is to put at least one of its members on each peak during the nine-day stretch. Proceeds from the challenge will go to Sarda (Lakes) and Sarda (England). So far, more than £3,000 has been raised.
Places are still available. Details are on the Wainwright Society website. Information on the Fly print is on the Teesdale Gallery website.
