BEAUTIFUL and intriguing butterfly paintings, lovingly created by a host of caring celebrities, are on display at Stockwood Discovery Centre until Monday March 29.

The Chrysalis Collection is the work of more than 40 stars from the world of music, television, film and sport - all united in their desire to help Keech Hospice Care.

They range from splodgy primitive outlines to intricate and exotic designs. Matching the personality to the painting is almost as entertaining as the exhibition itself.

Singer Aled Jones has depicted his butterfly as a snowman with wings while Coldplay's interpretation is a colourful upright stencil in green, fuschia, orange and lemon. Strictly's Alesha Dixon has painted three very pretty specimens while songbird Elaine Paige has placed hers on a lacy background,

The butterfly theme was chosen to represent the beauty of all lives, however short they may be.

The exhibition was opened by BBC personality Billy Byrne of DIY SOS fame who contributed two artworks executed in a bold, bright style.
Billy, whose beloved daughter died of cancer, said: "The Chrysalis Collection is an absolutely brilliant idea and the exhibition has so many celebrity artworks."

A Watford mum whose son Mark was cared for by Keech until he died in September, aged just 15, was involved with getting it together. She used her contacts to collect artworks from EastEnders cast members and Radio One presenters.

Karen Pulver, 54, said: "It's been my personal way of thanking Keech for all they did for Mark, and all they are still doing for my family. It gave me a reason to get up in the morning and get on with my life.
"Mark would be proud of me and the Chrysalis Collection is a really special way of remembering him."

The collection will be auctioned on eBay between March 19 - 28 to raise much-needed funds for the hospice.

- For more information call 01582 707940 or visit www.keech.org.uk/chrysalis