Skydiving grandad mounts charity art exhibition (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Gifted artist sells paintings for Halton Haven Hospice

7:30am Saturday 15th September 2012 in News By Barbara Jordan

A SKYDIVING grandad who raised £5,000 for Halton Haven is keeping his feet on the ground for his next charity venture.

Ken Allen, aged 64, who almost died from a rare condition, fulfilled his lifelong ambition to jump out of a plane in May.

Now, is using his creative skills to support the hospice.

He is staging an exhibition of his oils and watercolours at Widnes Library, from September 17 to October 26, and will donate 10 per cent of all sales to help cancer patients.

Former Wade Deacon pupil, Ken, of Pinnersfold, Norton, Runcorn, said: “I dabbled since I left school but took up painting seriously 18 months ago.

“My work is quite varied, from formal landscapes, life study, abstract and impressionist. I like doing people.

“I’ve never been shown proper techniques. I’ve been taking lessons and it’s been very useful.

“I love painting because it’s so relaxing. “ Ken, a sales director for an international medical company, gave up his job in 2006 after developing a serious, rare blood diorder, called auto immune haemolytic anaemia.

He said: “I came close to dying. After three years’ treatment, the condition was brought under control.”

He returned to work part time as a consultant.

He has been nominated for a national award for his skydiving feat.

Ken said: “Jumping out of the plane was unbelievable. When they first open the door, you feel like you are really falling, then, suddenly you’re floating.

“It was absolutely unbelievable. I would recommend it to anyone.”