This year’s Horatio’s Garden Online Art Auction, generously supported by Woolley & Wallis auctioneers, has raised £61,500 and will directly support the work of the charity. The charity builds, cares for and staffs transformative gardens for people with spinal injuries at NHS rehabilitation centres, offering reflection and adjustment, privacy and solace, joy and companionship to all who need it. It has now opened gardens in eight of the 11 NHS centres across the country, with a mission for everyone with a spinal injury to have access to a Horatio’s Garden, as part of their rehabilitative care. Horatio’s Garden also leads gardening sessions to grow and cultivate plants, arts workshops to discover new skills and a programme of live music and events.
Over 70 established and emerging artists kindly donated their artworks for the online auction, which was held from October 9-26th 2025 and resulted in £80,000 of sales before artist commission. The artists included Sarah Armstrong-Jones, Sir Quentin Blake, John Illsley, Sophie Ryder, Mark Coreth, Nic Fiddian-Green and Alastair Barford, amongst others.
One of the most highly sought after works was Fishing off Needles by John Illsley, founding member and former bass guitarist of Dire Straits, which achieved £1,250. Competitive bidding for this piece reflected Illsley’s growing recognition in the contemporary art world. A portrait commission by Royal painter Alastair Barford also proved popular. Barford, who famously painted the late Queen and the first portrait of King Charles III as King, offered a private portrait sitting, which sold for £2,900.
There was a bidding war for a work titled Flowering Plant by the internationally acclaimed illustrator Sir Quentin Blake CH CBE RDI. Widely regarded as one of Britain’s most cherished and influential artists in the field of illustration, his distinctive style is unparalleled, which was demonstrated in the piece selling for four times its estimate at £800!
An abstract work titled Studio Window by Sarah Armstrong-Jones (RA) also exceeded expectations, selling for £3,600. The colourful oil on canvas dating from 2023 epitomised her oeuvre. These typically abstract landscapes and interior scenes draw inspiration from the natural textures of the world around her. Her work is distinguished by a keen sensitivity to light, mood and the shifting qualities of time and weather, which she captures in oil on canvas and in watercolour. Sarah was keen to support and said: “Art is such an important creative focus in Horatio’s Gardens for patients with spinal injuries. I am really delighted to be able to help the charity to raise vital funds for people facing life-changing injuries.”
Following in his mother’s creative footsteps is Sam Chatto, who studied Art History at Edinburgh University and trained as a potter at the Northshore Pottery. In 2023 he apprenticed to the renowned Japanese master Yagi Akira and has participated in several exhibitions at the Redfern Gallery, London and Hauser & Wirth (Make) in Somerset. His donation for the auction was a yellow glazed bowl, which sold for 13 times its estimate, achieving £1,350.
The internationally acclaimed wildlife sculptor Mark Coreth donated a stunning sculpture titled Swoop of Three Swifts, which went above estimate, selling for £6,500. On donating to the charity and his involvement, he said: “I feel passionate about using sculpture to help people, which is why I offer workshops in Horatio’s Garden South West and wished to support this important auction.” Another sculptural work that saw huge interest was Still Water by Nic Fiddian-Green, the British sculptor, who specialises is making lifelike models of horses’ heads. The bronze achieved £11,000.
Elsewhere in the sale was A Spiral of Hibiscuses which sold for £140. The work was created by two sisters, one of which is Emily Kilby, an inspirational young artist who paints ceramics using her mouth after being paralysed at just 13 years old from a virus that attacked her spinal cord. Emily works alongside her sister Olivia, who creates innovative ceramics which then Emily decorates with her beautiful designs. Together they have led ceramics workshops in Horatio’s Garden London & South East and know from experience how valuable the garden is to people’s recovery. On donating their piece they said: “We’re taking part in this year’s art auction as Horatio’s Garden is a charity we truly care about. The workshops in the garden give a space for people to take their mind off things and allows for them to try something new, or in an adapted way to how they may have done so in the past.”
A donation by the Modern British Art Gallery of a work titled Tirzah on a Cockerel by the renowned British painter, designer, book illustrator and wood-engraver Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) performed exceptionally well, achieving £775 which was five times its estimate!
Katie Tait, CEO of Horatio’s Garden said: “What a fantastic result! We’re so grateful to all the incredible artists and bidders who through their generosity are helping us change the lives of people going through the most challenging of times. We see the importance of creativity for rehabilitation in the gardens every day, helping people to process emotions, build confidence and interact with others. Thank you so much to our partners at Woolley & Wallis for their brilliant support to make this happen.”
Commenting on the result of the auction John Axford, Chairman of Woolley and Wallis auctioneers, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the success of this year’s charity auction in support of Horatio’s Garden. The generosity of the artists and bidders alike has been truly inspiring and to have raised £61,500 for such an important cause is a wonderful achievement. It’s a privilege for Woolley and Wallis to help bring together the art community in support of a charity that transforms lives through creativity, nature and healing.”
