AN artist whose father caused a sensation when he stole a Lowry painting from a Middlesbrough gallery has donated one of his pieces of work to charity.

In 1972, John Durkin stole the painting by renowned Manchester artist LS Lowry, depicting St Hilda’s Church and Middlesbrough’s old Town Hall - and then demanded the Mayor raffle his underpants for charity to secure the painting’s safe return.

When he was arrested by police after the theft, he had a ransom letter calling for art galleries to be opened on Sundays “to allow the working man to get some culture”.

Now his son Sean, who always includes a matchstick illustration of a policeman and a robber in each of his paintings as an acknowledgement to his father, has now donated one of his works of art in support of Teesside Hospice.

The original fine art painting up for grabs is done in a Lowry-esque style, and as well as including his signature policeman and robber illustration, this painting also includes a matchstick Mayor in his underpants as a playful tribute to his fathers 'protest'. The painting has also be signed by current Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon.

The 50-year-old father-of two, who lived in Stanhope Grove, Acklam, drew inspiration from the stolen Lowry.

He said: "That image and the atmosphere of it that I find so beguiling stayed in my head for many years until finally I built up the courage to paint myself.

“That atmosphere is something I constantly strive for in my own work. I don’t do copies, I like to think of my paintings as the ones Lowry didn’t get around to doing himself."

An exhibition of his work is on at the Art House gallery on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, and will run until the end of the month, when the painting will then be sold off for the charity.