A WREXHAM woman is raising money from paintings of local beauty spots in memory of her partner who tragically took his own life.

Laura Evison, who owns Regent House of Flowers in Wrexham town centre, lost her partner, Mick Smith, last February - he was 46-years-of-age.

Laura, aged 49, had met Mick in October 2019 and the two of them loved going on walks at the numerous beauty spots around North Wales.

She took up painting during the lockdown periods, and began painting some of her and Mick's favourite places.

"The walking and painting helps me so much with my mental health," she said.

"Mick and I loved going on long walks and hikes around North Wales - and they are areas I live to paint."

The Leader: Mick loved going on walks around the many beauty spots in North Wales. Mick loved going on walks around the many beauty spots in North Wales.

Now, Laura is collecting donations for the paintings as part of a competition to win ownership of them to raise money for Beyond Six CIC - a mental health support group that Mick, a gas worker by trade, was a member of.

She said: "Mick was made the charity's 'Beacon of the North' in December 2020 and he was so proud to be part of something that was very important to him.

"I want to raise as much as I can to help the group continue to support people with mental health issues and raise suicide awareness."

Laura painted Cadair Idris - a mountain in the southern end of Snowdonia, which she then put up on offer in a fundraising competition.

She managed to raise a whopping £460 for Beyond Six CIC - with youngster Max Jones winning ownership of the painting.

Laura said: "I have recently finished another painting of a storm drain in the lovely Plas Power woods in Bersham - which Mick and I spotted during a walk around there.

"I wanted to try something a bit different to the usual landscapes - I always paint with a lot of detail, it helps to keep my mind in focus. And also I find it slows my thoughts down by looking into the details that are in front of me."

Laura is doing the same again and asking for donations for the chance to win it.

She said: "For every £5 donation you will have five chances to win. Please put your name by your donation or email me on paintingsinspiredbymick@hotmail.com for me to match your donation and send you your ticket numbers.

"I will be drawing a winner on May 1, 2022 and the winner will be contacted by email."

The fundraising page is available at https://bit.ly/3stTi8V

The Leader: Laura's painting of the storm drain in Plas Power woods in Bersham.Laura's painting of the storm drain in Plas Power woods in Bersham.