There are probably attics that contain old watercolours or sketches done in a burst of enthusiasm by a member of the family whilst on holiday – looking at a stretch of Cornish coast or a city skyline. These are works of art, if unrecognised by the wider world and probably even their own creators.

How many of these might be loved by a child or grandchild as a reminder of their own childhood? Or appreciated by the rest of the family as a reminder of a special holiday or occasion, or even of the artist themselves?

Families often find themselves living miles apart and so a piece of artwork produced by someone who is rarely seen can be a strong link for the family, helping them to feel close.

A scrap of paper with a sketch is nice, but likely to find itself left in a drawer or worse still, creased, torn or even thrown away by mistake. Putting the creation on canvas means it will be treated very differently and will be valued so much more, simply because we all value something that has been made with care, something that demands to be cared for.

The person in a family who enjoys sketching or painting will get such a boost from seeing that their family appreciate their work enough to want to make it permanent. Having a picture by one of your relatives on the wall is so much more meaningful even than having a framed photograph of the event. The care and skill and personal touch of something actually created by someone outlives a photo.

Having the early scribbles of a young child put on canvas may be a bit unkind, but the older child or adult who has a career and other life but enjoys drawing and painting as relaxation, and is able to produce something pleasant to look at will be thrilled to see their creation printed on canvas and placed for all the world to see.

And in the sad circumstance of having lost a family member, what a lovely way to have a reminder of them to have their work, done by their own hand, beautifully presented on canvas on the wall of your room.

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