STARS COME OUT TO CELEBRATE GLASGOW STYLE AT SPECTACULAR CHARITY EVENT

On Saturday, 16th September Carol Smillie, Shareen Nanjiani, David Robertson and Joyce Falconer, along other members of the River City cast, stepped out to support "Style at the Galleries", a major charity art auction arranged by Buchanan Galleries at Kelvingrove Art Gallery, with thousands raised for Scottish causes.

The event raised £35,000 (and counting!) for Scottish charities with an auction of seven specially created artworks for seven Scottish charities raising whopping £31,900. Impressive sums were handed over for exclusive paintings of Franz Ferdinand star Alex Kapranos and the Big Yin himself, Billy Connolly. Generous donations made throughout the night are expected to raise the grand total to over £35,000.

Scottish celebrities turned out to support the event with stars such as Carol Smillie and Shereen Nanjiani adding an extra touch of style to the glitzy occasion. The stars took part in the charity auction by introducing the paintings raising funds for charities close to their hearts ? Yorkhill Children's Foundation, CHAS and ChildLine.

Carol Smillie said:

"It's been a fantastic night and an event that Glasgow can really be proud of. Yorkhill Children's Foundation and CHAS are charities I'm extremely passionate about and I'm very glad to have been able to support them by taking part in Style at the Galleries. The paintings have raised impressive sums and it's wonderful that the money will be benefiting seven Scottish charities."

Shereen Nanjiani was there supporting Childline and pointed out that:

"ChildLine is a charity which I'm always keen to support and I'm delighted to have been involved in an event that's not only amazingly stylish but benefits so many worthy causes. It has been a terrific night and one that really epitomises Glasgow style."

The funds raised will be donated to seven charities nominated by the artists including The Third Step, CHAS, ChildLine, the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Meningitis Trust, Yorkhill Children's Foundation and Maggie's Centre.

In keeping with the stylish theme of the night, auction winners and bidders included music fans, fashionistas and Glaswegians with a true eye for style as well as art collectors and members of the business community.

In addition to the exciting auction, the event included a host of spectacular ? and stylish ? entertainment including a never before seen catwalk show. Gina McKie and David Farrell from Clyde 1, El Presidente's Dawn Zhu and Thomas McNeice, and members of the River City cast (Laura McMonagle, Jayd Johnson, June Brogan and Tony Kearney) were on hand to model cutting edge fashion and demonstrate Glasgow style at its best.

Some of Scotland's top models also took to the runway donning specially created black dresses incorporating stunning floor length prints of the seven works of art up for auction. A variety of prestigious musical and dance performers also descended on Kelvingrove to add extra flair to the exciting event.

Alastair W Thomson's stunning depiction of Kelvingrove Art Gallery itself sold for an impressive £12000. A specially created painting entitled 'Castle Craig' by esteemed artist Peter Howson raised a fantastic £7000. Bill Blackwood's painting of Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos eating a notorious Glasgow delicacy ? a deep fried Mars Bar ? sold for £4500.

Derek Collins raised £2200 with his popular panting of Glasgow's own Billy Connolly emerging naked from the Clyde. Glasgow School of Art rising star, Calvin Stewart raised £1400 with his painting of the Mackintosh Building. An eye catching depiction of Glasgow culture by Connie Simmers, entitled Glasgow Belongs to Me!, fetched £3200. The famous Armadillo was painted by artist Jessica Wolfson and fetched £1600 at auction.

The seven artists were originally brought together by Buchanan Galleries and 'Glasgow: Scotland with style' to celebrate Buchanan Galleries seventh birthday and to paint iconic images of Glasgow with a view to raising funds for seven Scottish charities with the glamorous Style at the Galleries event the final stage of the prestigious art project.

Hamish Millar, Centre Manager at Buchanan Galleries, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the sum raised on the night and are thrilled to be able to donate this figure to our seven nominated charities. Style at the Galleries has not only showcased work by some of Scotland's most talented artists but has also sparked great debate about what Glasgow style is.

"The event at Kelvingrove was the perfect culmination to this exciting project and we at Buchanan Galleries would like to thank all of the artists involved, everyone who made the night such a success and all those who dug deep into their pockets to help our seven charities."

Artists, artwork and the charities involved in the Style at the Galleries auction:

• Artist: Bill Blackwood painting Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand for ChildLine.
• Artist: Derek Collins painting Billy Connolly for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.
• Artist: Peter Howson painting the third step for the Third Step charity.
• Artist: Connie Simmers painting Glasgow caf? culture for Yorkhill Children's Foundation.
• Artist: Calvin Stewart painting Glasgow School of Art for Meningitis Trust and the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.
• Artist: Alastair W Thomson painting Kelvingrove Art Gallery for Maggies Centre.
• Artist: Jessica Wolfson painting the Armadillo for CHAS.

Sponsors

Headline sponsors at Style at the Galleries were Henderson's and Land Securities and other sponsors included Heather Cream, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow: Scotland with style, Lyon & Turnbull, Nisbet Wylie Photographs.

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