A TALENTED artist who donates a portion of his sales to a vital charity in Wrexham has been handed a community hero award.
The F Jones Initiative award scheme recognises those who contribute most to the Wrexham community and were originally established by Wrexham Lager and F Jones Food Service.
The latest winner of the 2024/25 prize is Ian Jones, who is a freelance artist and illustrator.
Ian has always been an artist and also worked in Wrexham Maelor Hospital for 12 years.
He will be a familiar name/face for Wrexham fans as he often paints matchday scenes from outside the ground or from his seat in the Wrexham Lager stand.
His work has been purchased worldwide in countries like Canada and Thailand.
And a portion of the sales he makes via selling at the Wrexham Hospital League of friends shops at Wrexham Maelor also goes towards supporting that charity.
Ian said: "Over the past 18 months or so I have been swept along by the euphoria that is Wrexham AFC. I have painted and drawn scenes that I have witnessed, either outside the ground or from my seat in the Wrexham Lager Stand.
"In 2023 I started doing prints of my work, which turned out to be very successful. And they quickly sold in this country and abroad, to places such as America, Canada, and Bangkok (Thailand).
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"Around March time 2023, I was approached by the Wrexham Hospital league of friends shops at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. They asked if I would like to sell them from there, and I suggested donating £5 from each one sold there to the Wrexham Hospital League of Friends, a charity that supports the hospital and helps to buy crucial equipment amongst other things."
Ian added: "They have sold many of my prints, mugs and cards and raised over £1,000, and still counting for a vital charity."
One of Ian’s paintings has also just been sold to benefit the Wrexham Miners Project, with all proceeds going to the project.
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