A TALENTED artist has donated a painting of the gardens at a Balloch children’s hospice to Robin House to thank them for their care services, writes Tempany Grace.

Johnny Ricketts decided to paint a picture of part of the six-acre garden at Robin House after visiting the hospice in 2018 and chatting with the gardener Maggie Brown.

As a former horticulturist, Johnny often spends time in the garden when visiting the hospice, chatting to Maggie and the team of volunteers who work alongside her.

He said: “The garden is just fantastic and is something people really remember.

“I really enjoy painting; it helps to relax me, so after speaking to Maggie, I came up with the idea of painting some of the garden.”

Johnny works offshore in the oil industry and is often working in India, so completing the painting was a labour of love.

He added: “The work that staff and volunteers do at Robin House is remarkable. It was an absolute pleasure to present them with my painting; I hope they and all the families who use Robin House will enjoy it for many years to come.”

Maggie Brown, gardener at Robin House, said: “The time and effort Johnny has put in to create this beautiful painting is amazing.

“We’re so pleased with the painting and it’s now hanging in the reception area of Robin House for everyone to see.”

The artist now has a small studio in Glasgow and has recently began painting pictures of the Scottish Highlands.

CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides hospice services for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

The national charity offers palliative care and respite for the whole family via its two hospices and via its CHAS at Home service, which supports families in their own homes across the whole of Scotland, and through its increasing presence in hospitals across the country.