A Hazlemere artist is holding an exhibition to help raise money for the charity that helped his daughter recover from anorexia.

Alan Bell, a dad-of-two, has been painting red kites for five years and will be selling a selection of his paintings at the exhibition next week.

Mr Bell plans to donate a large chunk of any sales on the day to the Highfield family and adolescent unit at Warneford Hospital in Headington, Oxford where his eldest daughter was treated for the eating disorder.

The 61-year-old was spurred into painting the birds of prey as he was driving to Highfield to visit his daughter five years ago.

He said: “It gave me the inspiration I suppose, when I saw some as we were driving up to the clinic.”

Since then he has been commissioned by various people to paint the birds, famous for their forked tails and distinctive red-coloured plumage.

Mr Bell said many of his clients had emotional links to the birds after a family member had become ill and spent time in bed or at home watching them.

He added: “I find it amazing the kind of people that come to me for a painting with memories of their wife or husband who has just had a stroke or got cancer or died, who spent time looking at kites.

“There's a lot of sentimental stuff to do with red kites. I'm amazed by the strong interest there is is in them.”

Mr Bell exhibits his work around three times a year, but this is the first time he has done it for charity and hopes to raise awareness of Highfield as well as money for it. He also plans an holding a bigger fundraising event for the unit in the future.

Mr Bell is holding the exhibition of his 40 works at his home in 10 Grove Road, Hazlemere on Sunday, November 30 from 10am – 3pm.