Art fans have shown their class by raising more than £23,000 for charities that support refugees throughout East Hampshire.

Dozens of artists had a brush with the public last Monday (March 4) as Bedales held an art sale in aid of the Rural Refugee Network and its own John Badley Foundation Emergency Relief Fund.

The latter provides scholarships for refugees while the Petersfield-based RRN provides support with housing, work, education and more for refugees from the likes of Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan who have made East Hampshire their home.

The charity also holds outreach sessions at TPS and provides daytrips for groups of young asylum seekers who have escaped persecution in places like Iran, Vietnam and Sudan.

While proceeds from the sale were split, the event is the RRN’s biggest of the year with more than 250 paintings – including two pieces by Ukrainian artists – ranging from £10 to £10,000 available to buy.

And it only took a couple of minutes for the first purchase of the night with more than 400 people snapping up tickets for the event.

“We wouldn’t be able to do this without the support of Bedales,” said Milly Jonas, RRN trustee.

“We’re also lucky to have all these amazing artists involved and all the opportunities it brings.”

Andy Crowe, RRN trustee and curator, called the event a “homecoming” as his work had taken him to places afar as London and St Helena since leaving East Hampshire more than a decade ago.