AN award-winning artist and former Echo cartoonist is transforming signatures and doodles by stars into mini canvases, to raise money for a Christchurch hospice.

Danny Byrne has organised the 'Canvas for the Mac' online event will see a growing collection of uniquely designed doodles, sketches and lyrics by well-known names from the worlds of TV, sport, art and music, auctioned on eBay.

All money raised will go to the Macmillan Unit, based in the grounds of Christchurch Hospital, which provides palliative care and support for over 1600 people and their families every year.

Big names who have contributed canvases so far include Dorset resident Harry Redknapp, footballer Marcus Rashford, comedian Michael MacIntyre and musical stars The Vamps.

Ringwood-based artist, Danny, has taken signatures and stickmen doodles donated by Ant & Dec – currently on our screens in I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! – and incorporated them within an eye-catching jungle scene.

He has also transformed a canvas signed by Brian May with a stunning painting of the Queen star playing his guitar.

Danny is well known for his portraits which have been exhibited by the Royal Academy and the Royal Portrait Society.

He is also the recent winner of the 2021 Dorset Art Prize and a former cartoonist for the Bournemouth Echo.

He said: “My wife Denise had cancer four years ago and was extremely lucky to make a full recovery. We have both been involved in fundraising for Bournemouth Hospital and have wanted to do the same for the Mac unit for some time.

“When the chance came up to use my skills to help Canvas for the Mac, I was only too pleased to get involved.

“Next up I have signed canvases donated by the hugely popular comedians Russell Kane and Michael MacIntyre to work on and thanks to their quirky personalities I already have some good ideas of what I’m going to do.”

Lin Sharp, Capital Appeal Director of Macmillan Caring Locally, said: “We are so grateful to the talented Danny Byrne for his support for Canvas for the Mac.

“We hope this exciting event will raise a significant amount of money for our Brick by Brick appeal, to replace the existing, outdated Mac Unit with a brand new hospice to meet the future needs of the community.

“Our huge thanks also go to all the celebrities who have donated canvases so far. We will be building excitement by publicising new contributors in the run-up to the auction and hope people will enjoy the chance to bid for their own piece of one-off artwork.”

Canvases will be on show at the Captain’s Club and Spa in Christchurch in May 2022, with the online auction taking place at the end of May 2022 for 10 days.