DRAWINGS and sculptures produced by a host famous names are to go under the hammer for charity at a Stourbridge auction house this week.

Close to 200 works of art produced by celebrities including the late great David Bowie, astronaut Tim Peake, former Prime Minister Theresa May, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, rock legend Robert Plant, tennis star Sir Andy Murray and many more will be sold at a charity sale at Fieldings Auctioneers in Mill Race Lane which will raise money for UNICEF.

The artworks have been collected over the last 20 years by former Dudley art teacher Dorothy Claxton who established the Doves for Peace charity www.dovesforpeace.co.uk in 1999 as part of efforts to help highlight the plight of innocent children caught up in violent conflicts and fleeing from war torn countries around the world.

Taking inspiration from the world's most recognisable symbol of peace - which evolved from Pablo Picasso's 1949 Dove of Peace - Dorothy, who worked in art education, came up with the idea of asking celebrities to produce their own version of the famous line drawing...based on the idea that every individual would interpret it differently and produce an entirely different drawing.

Her labour of love started in 1999, when she received her first dove from David Bowie. The dove was drawn by the music legend while he was at BBC Radio 1 and the spontaneous piece of art set her off on a path that would become part of her life for 20 years.

Close to 200 drawings were collected, many in person, with help from her two co-organisers Heather Anderson and Beth Hiscox.

Other big names who have submitted drawings include sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Bob Geldof, rock star Bryan Ferry, TV's Holly Willoughby, photographer Mary McCartney, pop star Pixie Lott, actress and singer Sheridan Smith, sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, Scottish painter Barbara Rae, English actor Andrew Lincoln and many more.

Dorothy, of Pensnett, said: "It's been a joy. Every one is completely different. It's amazing. I love them."

All of the drawing and sculptures are one off pieces and 106 lots will go up for auction this Thursday (October 17) at 7pm at Fieldings Auctioneers in Mill Race Lane, Stourbridge.

Will Farmer, director at Fieldings Auctioneers and a familiar face on the BBC1's Antiques Roadshow, will be wielding the gavel on the evening.

There will also be an online auction on Friday October 18 from 10am which will include 91 lots which people can bid on via website https://fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk/.

He said: "We couldn’t be more thrilled to have been chosen to sell these wonderful artworks.

"Dorothy has worked tirelessly to collate this wonderful body of work, we are very excited to see how they sell on the evening and raise money for a wonderful cause."