Sidmouth screenwriter’s art swansong for charity

Shelley Griffiths, who has produced international best-selling abstract impressionist works under the name Laurie Maitland, has organised a special event to boost the Sid Valley Food Bank.

Her week-long charity exhibition is taking place at Kennaway House, from 10am to 4pm excluding Sunday, to mark her semi-retirement from art.

It will culminate with a gala evening and grand auction from 6pm to 9pm next Saturday, May 18, with special guest Vicki Campbell singing a vintage-style set.

The Herald reported last month how mum-of-one Shelley, 43, is set to swap canvasses for the silver screen after her first script caught the eye of an award-winning director and producer.

She will hang up her brushes to concentrate on East Devon-based Summer at the Mill and other writing projects.

“The charity exhibition is a clear-out with the aim of raising money for the Sid Valley Food Bank and helping me move out of my studio,” said Shelley.

“I chose the food bank because it is a local charity who are doing fantastic job, going above and beyond just doing the bare essentials. A friend of mine in Sidmouth was struggling and couldn’t make it to the Friday opening to get food, so Anne-Marie [Jones] from the food bank filled a bag of food for her and her little boy, and took it to her. It wasn’t just tins and the long-life foodstuffs but fresh food too like eggs, bread and milk - things that cost money and don’t go into the food bins. They need cash to buy these things, so that’s why I chose them.

“Sid Valley Food Bank is a proper old- fashioned charity where every penny goes to the cause.”

Shelley grew up in London in the 1970s when times were tough and her family received charity food boxes once a week for a short time.

“We couldn’t have done without it,” she said.

“I like the idea that I can help do the same for others.”

Tickets to the gala night are available from the exhibition. Contact Shelley on 01395 519555 for more information.