INTERNATIONALLY renowned artist Mackenzie Thorpe has helped raise more than £35,000 for charity after several of his pieces were auctioned at a fundraising dinner.

A numbered first copy of the Middlesbrough-born artist's upcoming limited edition book, along with four prints and a small original painting, raised £9,000 alone after they were snapped up by an anonymous donor at the Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation's annual charity dinner on Friday night.

The book, ‘Out of the Shadows’, recounts his life story through imagery, emotive quotes and previously unseen photographs.

The sell-out dinner saw 350 fundraisers enjoy the night at Middlesbrough Town Hall which was hosted by Alastair Brownlee.

The Foundation is a registered Teesside charity which raises money to fund community work, including apprenticeships for youngsters and fighting poverty.

Foundation chairman Andy Preston said 25 per cent of the dinner's proceeds would be donated to make sure the Tees food banks are stocked in time for Christmas as well as continuing to support the Salvation Army's Christmas Toy Appeal.

“It was a great night of fundraising by some proud Teessiders with every penny of profit set be donated to local charities, community groups and good causes," he said. “We’re very grateful for the generosity of both Mackenzie Thorpe and our anonymous winning bidder, who I can reveal is also one of the Foundation’s brilliant patrons."

Mr Thorpe said: "The town and the area are still very close to my heart and I am delighted to be in a position to give something back to the community."