The stunning artwork was painted by renowned artist Philip Gray, who partnered with our charity, with the help of Clarendon Fine Art.

Philip is an Irish extreme artist who is globally recognised for painting in unexpected and sometimes dangerous locations, including Mt Everest and under icebergs in Antarctica.

In support of our charity, he painted Northumberland’s Bamburgh beach after it was voted the best beach in the North East on social media.

In preparation of the painting, Philip visited the beach to do some preliminary work, and while it may not have been an extreme climate, he still had to deal with wind and rain.

During his visit Philip sketched the beach and created a small pastel painting, which he used as a template before returning to his studio in Ireland to create the final piece.

One of his reasons for choosing GNAAS was his personal connection to the charity, as his mother was rescued by an air ambulance.

He attended our ball in the North East in October 2024 alongside several staff from Clarendon Fine Art, where he saw his painting named ‘Above and Beyond’ auctioned off for £5,000.

Prior to this, Philip and Clarendon Fine Art had already raised £13,625 from the sale of live paintings which were auctioned off at Clarendon’s galleries across the North East, including Newcastle, York and Harrogate.

A spokesperson for Clarendon Fine Art said: “The auction at the ball was the highlight of our partnership, which has raised £18,625 through events and exhibitions, bringing communities and art lovers together for a great cause.

“A big thank you to all who supported this initiative.”

In recognition of Clarendon Fine Art’s fundraising efforts they were awarded Corporate Partner status and proudly have their logo displayed on the back of one of our rapid response vehicles for a year.

About Clarendon Fine Art:

Over the last 20 years, Clarendon Fine Art has built a strong reputation for making art accessible to all. The Clarendon team believes in the joy of collecting and loves nothing more than sharing that passion with others. With over 90 stunning galleries across the UK, on ocean liners and as far afield as Connecticut, USA, Clarendon offers an exclusive experience in art acquisition, whether to a seasoned collector or to someone beginning their journey into the art world.

Explore, experience and fall in love with art. Find out more about Clarendon Fine Art on their website.