A BRIDPORT artist teamed up with a Take That star to create a piece we will 'Never Forget'.

Elizabeth Sporne, 60, painted a portrait of Howard Donald, a member of the famous pop group, who autographed the painting which is to be auctioned off to raise money for charity.

The auction, 'Canvas for the Mac', devised as an annual fundraiser for the Macmillan Hospice in Christchurch offers small canvasses that have been signed by celebrities, many of which are completed with artwork relating to their subjects.

Elizabeth was approached by the charity when her ‘music icon’ series of portraits was noticed online. She agreed to paint the singer, who was happy to support the campaign. He signed the pre-painted portrait when DJ-ing at a club in Bournemouth last month.

Painting from her studio on St Michael's Trading Estate in Bridport, Elizabeth also works part-time at T. Snooks hat shop and as a receptionist at the Bridport Medical Centre. She grew up in Bridport before leaving for college to pursue a career in publishing - mainly sailing magazines - before being drawn back to Bridport ten years ago, and has been painting ever since.

She said: "I always felt like I should be doing what I am doing now.

"I am quite a fan of helping hospices when I can. If I can do that with my art, even better."

Elizabeth added that there is a reason the cause is close to her heart:: "My dad died in Dorchester's Weldmar hospice in 1995. They looked after him amazingly in his last few weeks so helping hospices is important to me and they deserve all the support they can get."

The autographed painting of the famed boy band singer will be on display during the first part of Elizabeth’s first solo exhibition of portraits at Athelhampton House, near Dorchester, beginning on October 8 and running until later this year.

The artist’s connection with Athelhampton began three years ago when the new owner of the historic house commissioned her to paint several Tudor-style portraits, which are now on permanent display at the venue.

Elizabeth is now one of the first ‘Athelhampton Artists’ with a solo show in its reopened gallery. The Howard Donald portrait will be transferred to Christchurch for the launch of the charity auction in November, but the exhibition itself, entitled 'Modern Icons' - a motif first suggested by Roy Gregory from Clock Tower Music, a neighbour to Elizabeth's studio - may hold further surprises.

For more information visit elizabethsporne.com or athelhampton.com, or see @canvasforthemac on social media.