TEESSIDE artist Mackenzie Thorpe is lending his creative talents to support a charity campaign to raise awareness of heart disease.

The Middlesbrough-born and world-renowned artist has joined forces with the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Wear It, Beat It’ campaign to highlight the killer disease.

Some of Mr Thorpe’s most iconic works feature a prominent heart and he is lending the image to the campaign via a virtual showcase called #apushforallhearts.

The images will be shown online and while reflecting on the pictures, viewers also have an opportunity to vote for their favourite to be in with a chance to win a signed copy of Mr Thorpe’s new book Out of the Shadows.

The campaign will culminate on February 6 where people across the country will be asked to wear red on the day to show their support.

Mr Thorpe said he was delighted to lend his heart images to the campaign and praised the life-saving research carried out by the BHF.

Last November Mr Thorpe lent his skills to The Northern Echo’s First World War centenary campaign to raise £100,000 for 100-years.

He painted a scene called Remembrance which featured a large poppy and was used as The Northern Echo’s front page image for the special Sunday edition.

The original painting later raised £13,000 at auction for the Phoenix House recovery centre at at Catterick Garrison.