THE memory of an Evesham mother has been immortalised in a painting donated to St Richard's Hospice where she was cared for.

The painting of a snowdrop fairy has been created by Martin Buffery, whose mother, Judith, inspired the picture following her care in the in-patients' unit at St Richard's before she died earlier this year aged 71.

Mrs Buffery, who lived with her husband Roy at Hampton, near Evesham, spent five days being cared for by the hospice team. She was a member of St Andrew's Church, in Hampton.

Her son, Martin, an automotive designer who lives near Stratford, paints as a hobby and his mother suggested he create a piece of artwork to donate to the hospice to help raise funds towards the charity's care of patients and families.

"The excellent hospice team made mum's last few days comfortable and dignified. I visited her during her stay with my own family and talked to her about the hospice. We chatted about the pictures on show and sale in the hospice reception, many using the St Richard's snowdrop symbol. As I do some painting Mum asked if I would add to the collection of pictures and hopefully raise a bit more money for the hospice's care, explained Mr Buffery.

To mark Mrs Buffery's birthday on November 28 when she would have been 72, the family visited St Richard's to donate the finished framed painting.

Mr Buffery added: "With mum's birthday approaching I felt I had to do as she had asked and so produced a small picture of a snowdrop plant, together with a fairy. My daughter Eleanor, who is five, loves fairies so this seemed a perfect link. I hope someone will fall in love with the painting and buy it to help support hospice care in the future."

The painting will hang in the hospice foyer.

St Richard's Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with life-threatening illnesses and supports their families. Each year the hospice team supports over 2,600 patients and family members in Worcestershire.