South Shields artist's burning tribute to David Bowie

Pyrography artist Lisa Cooley is hoping her portrait of legend David Bowie will raise funds for the charity after joining a Facebook group in his honour.

Mum-of-two Lisa said she joined the group ‘Burning 4 Bowie’ following the artist’s death last month with the aim of creating a piece of art inspired by the star to sell on eBay during a three-day auction, which starts tomorrow.

The 40-year-old dinner lady at Forest View Primary School in South Shields became interested in pyrography - the art of decorating wood or leather by burning a design on the surface with a heated metallic point - last year.

She said: “I have always been a bit arty. It started when I had my kitchen done and there was some wood left over.

“I had bought a cheap burning pen years ago and thought it might come in handy, so I went on Facebook and found a group called Pyrography UK.

“It was from that group I found out that a man called Glen Morgan had started a group called Burning 4 Bowie after David Bowie’s death.

“The group is made up of artists from around the world who have donated tributes to David Bowie which are being auctioned.

“All proceeds from the auction are being donated to Cancer Research.”

The group has seen around 30 artists make tributes to the star in various mediums, including collages and portraits, which they will sell as individual pieces via the auction site.

Lisa, from Constable Gardens in Whiteleas, also runs her own business, Wooden You Like, making ornaments and keepsakes using pyrography.

She has put up a starting bid of 99p, and hopes to raise £20 for the charity.

“The piece is my first-ever portrait and took about three weeks of hair-pulling to create,” Lisa added.

“I sketched it out on the wood and then used my Peter Childs Pen to burn the wood.

“The pen cost £100 second-hand. It’s quite an expensive hobby, and it took me around 20 hours to do.
“The coaster-sized portrait was then finished off with linseed oil to seal the work.

“I am hoping the smaller size will be more useful for peoples homes,” Lisa added.

To bid on the works by the group visit www.burning4bowie.co.ukTo see more of Lisa’s work visit: www.facebook.com/woodenyoulike.