Doherty's artwork in the wrong vein, charity says

9:05am Thursday 10th July 2008

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A CHARITY that supports children suffering from leukaemia has turned down the offer of funds from a young people's art exhibition in Marlborough because it included a drawing in blood by controversial rocker Pete Doherty.

More than 800 postcard-sized drawings were submitted, mainly from school children, for the Get in The Gallery exhibition running from Saturday until today at the Morgan Boyce Gallery in Hughenden Yard.

Doherty, who rents a house in Savernake Forest, jumped at the chance to support the exhibition together with a couple of members of his Babyshambles band.

Visitors were invited to buy the drawings for £5 except for Doherty's drawing in blood of his band, which was exhibited in the window and was to be raffled with tickets costing £5.

Sales were brisk and all money raised was due to go to children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent. Peter Davison, one of the organisers of the We Love Marlborough events over the weekend that included the art show, said they were disappointed that CLIC had pulled out.

He said because of unexpected publicity over Doherty's drawing the organisers decided to contact CLIC, which had previously welcomed the prospect of getting the art show proceeds.

"We called them to make sure they were still okay and they went away to think about their decision," said Mr Davison.

Sarah Talbot-Williams, CLIC's director of communications, said the charity could not allow its name to be used to promote a picture made of blood. "We couldn't link ourselves to such a disturbing picture, and so we had to turn down the much needed donation," she added.