Channel 4 news reader Alex Thomson will open the exhibition which will see artists selling off their work in aid of charity.

Elsie Wigmore’s husband Barry passed away last October aged 72 while being cared for in St Catherine's Hospice.

Elsie, herself a prolific painter, told the Whitby Gazette: “At the end of his life, he asked me to organise an exhibition to create funding to help the hospice in the continuation of its special care.

“Together with Hayley Newton, a member of the hospice’s staff, we planned the idea, never dreaming it would become such a special event.”

Artists including Peter Hicks, Len Tabner, Anne Thornhill, John Freeman, Richard Pottas and, of course, Elsie herself, will be selling their art over the course of the show, which runs until 24 April.

Whitby Town Council has waived its 25% commission fee for the exhibition so 35% of the fee from each sale will now go directly to the charity.

The Co-op in Langborne Road has donated all the wine and food for the opening free of charge.

“I have been amazed by the goodwill surrounding us from Whitby Town Council to the Whitby Co-op store and, of course, the 30 artists who have agreed to participate in this show,” said Elsie, who lives in East Barnby.

“When I asked Alex Thomson of Channel 4 News if he would open the exhibition he immediately said he ‘would be delighted’ and that has been the general response. I should like to thank everyone publicly for making my husband’s wish come to fruition and hope we raise funds to help our local hospice to continue its wonderful work.”

Pannett Art Gallery curator Jackie Price said it had been a lot of work to get the exhibition off the ground.

“It is really the first show of this type that we have put on,” she said. “We have worked very closely with the town council and are now looking at doing at least one fund-raising event like this a year.”

Alex Thomson will officially open the exhibition at noon tomorrow at Pannett Art Gallery in Pannett Park. The works will then be on display until 24 April.