Tragic deaths spur Black Isle artist to put mental health charity Mikeysline in frame for a boost
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An artist from the Black Isle is giving away one of her paintings to raise cash for Mikeysline.
After the loss of two close friends to suicide, Elizabeth Giddy (20) from Munlochy said she wanted to raise as much money as possible for the Inverness-based charity.
Mikeysline provide confidential support for those in emotional distress, struggling with mental health issues and people who are in crisis. It operates a text line on 07786 20 77 55, live chat, a drop in centre and have an appointment service.
Ms Giddy, who is currently working with the NHS on its Covid response as a coding administrator, said anyone who could donate even £2 would make a difference to her fundraising total.
Ms Giddy said: "I started my art business in January doing commissions and painting landscapes from around the Highlands and Scottish scenes.
"While I only work on my art in my spare time, it has been going very well."
While Ms Giddy lives in Livingston where she works, her family home is at Muirton Farm on the Black Isle.
"I lost two friends to suicide, both of them lived in the Highlands.
"Suicide is becoming more and more of a problem in the area, and if you look at the statistics you can see things are not improving. That is why I wanted to do a fundraiser, as anything that any of us can do is so important.
"Mikeysline have been at the forefront of speaking with many of my friends in the aftermath of our friend's deaths, and I know that they are there to help anyone. And I know that they have.
"Both of the boys who died were so talented, and they were just boys, not yet men.
"When you look at the statistics it is clear that it is just so much harder for men to speak out about mental health, it is just so much harder.
"These boys also liked my painting, so it seems like the right thing to do. It is time that mental health for men was not stigmatised."
Ms Giddy is offering a new painting of The Fyrish Monument, gouache on canvas 50cm x 60cm, where all of the money made from the raffle will go straight to Mikeysline
She is also offering prints of the painting for £10 where all of the profits made there will go to Mikeysline.
The prints can be found at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ElizabethCPaints.
To buy raffle tickets email elizabethclairepaints@gmail.com, or private message on www.facebook.com/elizabethclairepaints.
