AN exhibition of children’s art in Fordingbridge is set to raise money for respite care for young carers.

Gallery Collier and Dobson in High Street will be showing work from Forres Sandle Manor pupils, who are mounting an exhibition entitled Painting the New Forest Red.

The exhibition, which will be on show from June 21 to June 30, will feature work from pupils aged eight to 11, curated by art teacher Jane Whiteley and gallery owner Philip Collier.

The children have been encouraged to work in a wide range of media including acrylics, polymer paints, watercolour and pastels.

As well as looking to local artists such as Pete Gilbert for inspiration, they have also been delving into wider art history, including painting sheets of paper in New Forest colours to cut and paste into their designs in homage to the current Henri Matisse exhibition at the Tate Modern.

The exhibition of about 75 paintings and drawings will raise funds for The Honeypot Children’s Charity (honeypot.org.uk) which provides outreach support nationwide and respite holidays in the New Forest for child carers aged five to 12.

Money will be raised by picture sales and an auction, where lots include a stay at The Cider House in Buckland, jewellery and ceramics by Lefroys General Store and treatments from Alice Martin at the Keystone Clinic.