PAINTINGS by celebrated artists will be auctioned off later this month to help raise funds for a local arts centre.

Helmsley Arts Centre will be hosting the sale, which will be a ticketed event, on January 29 and 7.30pm

It includes work by artists including Sir Martyn Beckett, Sir David Goodall, Alan Hitchcock, Patrick Nuttgens and Carolyn Smith.

The 40 lots are on display at the centre until 29th January, on Tuesdays and Sundays from 11am to 3pm, and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 3pm.

Bids can be made in advance by completing a bidding form and handing it into the box office, or by emailing boxoffice@helmsleyarts.co.uk or telephoning 01439-771700.

Tickets for the auction evening cost £5 and include a glass of wine.

Helmsley Arts Centre first opened in 1992 and re-opened in its current form in 2001, after recovering from a major fire.

It is a thriving performance venue for theatre, music, dance, talks, cinema and live broadcasts, exhibitions, classes and a range of creative activities for children.

For more information go to helmsleyarts.co.uk.