31 January 2024 , 19:17
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Big-hearted pop star Ed Sheeran has splashed out so young talent can follow in his brushstrokes and be good at art.
The chart-topper, 32, is also a talented painter who creates giant canvasses reminiscent of US artist Jackson Pollock. Ed, one of Britain’s top taxpayers at £36million, donated cash to his former school to enable kids to express themselves through art.
It comes after he gave around £1m to help them learn music, which was revealed in 2022. The latest report by his charity The Framlingham Foundation Trust, which he funds, revealed new grants were given to Thomas Mills High School in Suffolk.
The grants were given to continue to provide students and teachers with top class learning resources and “a new Expressive Arts course in Year 8 introduced this year”.
Nikki Scholl, head of art at the school, told the Star: “At a time when music and the arts are recognised as being so vital in pupils’ wellbeing... this school is very well placed to support pupils’ artistic development and wellbeing. Thank you.”
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Ed has a track record of donating part of his fortune (WireImage)Ed, a father of two, also supports music, computer studies and photography at the school. He has sent cash to a primary school to buy musical equipment including new violins and violas for pupils.
The charity provides full bursaries to families who cannot afford fees. Its latest annual report shows it spent £91,000 on donations in 2022, and had a further £338,000 in its coffers. Ed, worth £300m, was named as one of Britain’s biggest taxpayers last week. Other famous faces on the list included JK Rowling at £40m.