A HEARTWARMING fundraiser has seen a teenager raise more than £150,000 through his famous global art project.
Noah, 13, has cerebral palsy began painting abstract backgrounds on cardboard during the first lockdown, collaborating with hundreds of street artists.
His first project raised £100,000 through an eBay auction and Noah has raised a further £57,000 from book sales and donations for his second project.
Noah’s stepfather Nathan Jones, 48, explained how his artistic journey got started.
He said: “It was more of a project we started to keep him occupied during the first lockdown.
“Like all parents with special needs children, I was worried about how I would keep him entertained at home.
“We had a lot of cardboard laying around, its rigid enough and stays in place while Noah paints as opposed to paper.”
Noah lives in Dedham with Nathan who began posting his art on Instagram in hopes of attracting other artists to finish off the pieces.
More than 500 artists around the world have since collaborated with the teenager.
Nathan added: “I wasn’t expecting that number, we originally painted eight backgrounds hoping to get eight people involved.
“At the start of the project 45 people joined on the first day eventually snowballing to 250 where we stopped.
“We then started new project with another round of 250 artists.”
Noah’s work goes towards a good cause as he has raised money for the children’s ward in Colchester Hospital.
The money has funded a new sensory room and a total overhaul of the garden area at the hospital.
Nathan said: “Lots of people sent me messages saying Noah’s work would make a lovely book which never dawned on me.
“I was concerned only 250 people at a time would be able to receive his work, but this way many more can get involved for a relatively little price.
“We decided to call the book Background Bob as loads of street artists have a pseudonym like that.”
Noah’s art has also been exhibited at the Firstsite gallery in Colchester and Nathan says they would both like to thank the artists for getting involved.
You can follow Noah’s project on Instagram @background_bob.
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