Art exhibition by the borough's homeless artists

Not only are the artists able to show their work but they are able to sell their pieces to fund further art projects and donate money to homeless charities.

It showcases work from four homeless artists Don Pollard, David Linton, Hugo Vaes and Evanya.

Don Pollard, 56, is originally from Lancashire and used to be a pub manager before he became homeless about three-and-a-half-years ago.

He now describes himself as a full-time painter and said: "I see the image people have of homeless people - sat in doorways drinking bottles of cider, but there is a whole variation among homeless people as there is in the rest of the world.

"Just because we are homeless - why shouldn't we be able to paint?"

The idea was the brainchild of a librarian from Kensington, Nina Risoli, who noticed several homeless people coming in and using library facilities and resources to produce pieces of art.

She suggested that they should exhibit their artwork and Kensington and Chelsea Council offered gallery space free of charge.

A collection of oil paintings and hand-painted pebbles are being displayed and visitors can purchase the works, with prices for larger pieces topping £650.

Some of the money from the sale of the art is being used for the artists' living expenses, but the majority is used to buy materials for future work and exhibitions.

Three of the artists recently entered a competition at the Royal Academy with the money raised during the previous exhibition earlier this year.

Two of the artists donated their work to an auction organised by the West London Churches Homeless Concern in the Royal Hospital and raised £630.

Councillor James Husband, Kensington and Chelsea Council's Cabinet Member for Libraries, said: "The exhibition has been a great success and I am pleased that the artists have successfully sold some of their work."

The exhibition is open at Chelsea Library, Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, on Friday and Saturday between 9.30am and 5pm and Sunday between 1pm and 5pm.

PICTURE: Contributed picture of Red Wood by Don Pollard