ARTIST Sir David Goodall has used his craft to provide help to two charities he is connected with.

A former High Commissioner to India, he became chairman of Helmsley Walled Garden four years ago.

And he has just donated £2,200 to assist in providing horticultural therapy at the garden. A further £616 of Gift Aid will be claimed back by the charity from the Inland Revenue, making a total gift of £2,816.

The donation came from the proceeds of Sir David's recent exhibition of watercolours at the Helmsley Arts Centre, the Traveller's Eye.

Sir David has painted all over the world, as well as in Yorkshire, and has published two books of watercolour drawings, Remembering India and Ryedale Pilgrimage, an illustrated tour of local churches.

He is chairman of the Leonard Cheshire Foundation and has also made a donation to the Alne Hall Cheshire Home from the exhibition's proceeds.