Heartbroken artist grieves death of cat by painting 100 drawings in 100 days
An animal-loving artist has raised hundreds of pounds for charity in a very creative way after the death of his beloved cat.
Mark Kirkham, 47, drew 100 cats in 100 days inspired by the loss of family pet Mocha, who died last year aged 21.
The dad, also known as The Edinburgh Sketcher thanks to his popular illustrations of the Scottish capital, put the pictures on social media where they quickly drew interest.
Last month, they were exhibited at the Art & Craft Collective Gallery in Edinburgh and also went on sale, raising £500 for the Lothian Cat Rescue charity.
His drawings have raised £500 for charity and will now be turned into a book (COLLECT)Mark said: "My 12-year-old twins James and Zoe have never known life without their fluffy companion. She was a loving tortie rescue cat and had seen my wife Joanne and our young family through ups and downs and always been there for a cuddle at the end of the day.
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"When we had to say goodbye we all struggled and for myself I turned to art to get me through.
"At the beginning it was more a distraction than a project, and I started drawing a cat a day and decided 100 was a nice round number before I realised that would take me more than three months to complete.
The art project helped Mark grieve the loss of his feline companion Mocha (COLLECT)
The dad turned to painting to help get him through the pain (COLLECT)"Each one means something to me and helped on my personal journey saying goodbye to Mocha."
Now Mark has decided to turn the collection into a picture book with 20 percent of profits going to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, where the family recently found two adorable new additions - rescue cats Whiskers and Misty.
The book, 100 Cats in 100 Days: A Therapeutic Journey, will be printed in June but supporters can pre-order a signed copy via Mark’s Etsy page.
Rescue of the week
Tish and Snuffles were just four-weeks-old when Cats Protection took them in (Cats Protection)Two abandoned kittens, each weighing less than a cup of sugar, were rescued in the nick of time after they were found shivering in the wind and rain.
Tish and Snuffles were just four-weeks-old when they arrived at Cats Protection's Evesham Adoption Centre last October.
Far too young to be away from their mother, both kittens were extremely underweight and suffering from cat flu, with Snuffles also suffering an eye infection so severe, sight in his right eye was beyond repair.
Daily Mirror's Pet ClubThe pair were hospitalised for a week of intensive treatment and their plight captured the hearts of the centre's supporters who raised £700 towards their care and surgery.
Adoption Centre Manager Charlie Hood said: "We were at capacity on the night Tish and Snuffles arrived but of course we couldn't turn them away.
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"Tish was just 0.28kg, weighing less than a cup of sugar and she was in marginally better shape than her brother."
The pair are now on the mend and will be rehomed when they are well enough.
Pet pic
Britain's loneliest dog Charlie has finally landed a forever home (Mid Somerset)Once dubbed Britain's loneliest dog, nine-year-old Charlie has finally found a home.
The loveable pooch had spent more than 500 days at an animal rescue centre before his story went viral on local TV last month, prompting an influx of applications to adopt him.
WebboxThe beagle cross, who arrived at Brent Knoll Animal Centre in Somerset in 2021 after living in a home where domestic abuse was present, has now been placed with a couple from Hampshire.
A spokesperson from RSPCA North Somerset said: "Charlie, our long-stay resident and part of the heart of our centre, finally left us for his new life with his lovely new mum and dad."
Story of the week
Pumpkin the paralysed pooch has taken to the spotlight in her role as Toto (PR HANDOUT)Pumpkin, a tiny West Highland terrier left paralysed after her spine was broken as a pup, has found fame playing Toto in the Wizard of Oz.
The adorable pooch, who captured hearts in 2021 after her story went viral, uses a wheelchair and needs ongoing treatment including hydrotherapy and regular scans.
After a difficult start in life, Pumpkin was adopted by Tammie Fox, 42, from Lincolnshire, who launched the charity Pumpkin & Friends to help other dogs like her brave Westie.
The pooch - who used a pink set of wheels and works as a therapy dog going into schools to help autistic and disabled children as well as care homes - was cast as Toto in Lincoln New Theatre Royal's production of The Wizard of Oz.
The show's artistic director Natalie Hayes-Cowley said: "We first met Pumpkin when she came to see the cast of our last Christmas Pantomime, Cinderella, and we instantly fell in love with her.
"Pumpkin loved every moment of being on stage and was not fazed by anything."
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