AN exhibition promoting Dorset artists has been supported by the mother of Amy Winehouse.

Janis Winehouse, mum of the late pop star, was visiting Bournemouth in support of their friend, Boscombe-based sculptor Linda Joyce, who has organised the Shards Art Exhibition with fellow artist, Rishi Ludgate, at the BIC.

She said: “I am the mother of Amy Winehouse and I am here to support our good friend, Linda Joyce’s with the Shard art exhibition.

“The foundation is set up to help disadvantaged young people and enable them to do things that they wouldn’t normally be able to.

“We have also brought the Amy Winehouse Foundation Resilience Programme to Bournemouth, which is a new project due to be rolled out into secondary schools next term.

“Bournemouth is a beautiful town and it is wonderful to be here. It just brings out a smile on people’s faces.”

The Amy Winehouse Foundation was set up in memory of Amy following the Back to Black singer’s death in July 2011, aged just 27.

Within the work of the foundation, a programme has been created to teach young people about the effects of substance and alcohol abuse with the aim of warning today’s generation of the effects it can have.

Linda Joyce, who created a sculpture bust of Amy Winehouse, previously told the Daily Echo: “When I heard that Amy had died, it was terribly sad because she was such a young, talented, person.

“I had always wanted to sculpt Amy as she had a beautiful face, so after her death, it twigged that I could do it to give to the foundation and to help local people.”

Nigel Hedges, chairman of Bournemouth Town Centre Management Board, also spoke at the start of the event about the emerging art scene in the town.

Bournemouth-based poet, Steve Biddle, read out some of his work to the audience, including poetry created specifically for the occasion.

The Shards art exhibition will be open each day until August 31 and is free to attend. For more, go to facebook.com/shardsartexhibitions