AN artist has created a one-off version of one of his most famous paintings which is now up for grabs.

Mackenzie Thorpe, who was born in Middlesbrough, has added three more young Boro fans to the very last copy of his sold-out ‘Where The Heart Is’ painting, which depicts a father and his two sons going to a game against a backdrop of iconic features on the town's skyline.

The painting will go under auction at the Finlay Cooper Fund’s biannual Dragonfly Ball at Wynyard Hall on Friday, June 15, and fans are invited to make pre-event bids for the item, which has already attracted a number of offers.

Mr Thorpe said: “I never fail to feel pride at where I come from, the strength and sense of community which exists in the north east even when times are hard, inspires me daily.

"Where the Heart is says it all really, no matter where I am, where I live, my heart belongs to the Boro."

The prints that were produced were a timed limited edition which ended the minute the referee blew the final whistle in the promotion-winning game against Brighton in 2016 which saw Boro return to the Premier League.

Nick Waites, trustee of the Finlay Cooper Fund, said: “The painting is a special piece in the first instance, but it has been made even more special now, so whoever buys this in the auction will be getting a completely unique piece."

  • The Finlay Cooper Fund, launched by former Middlesbrough defender Colin Cooper and his wife Julie, has raised well over half a million pounds for children’s causes over the last 12 years