Famous names donate hand drawn artworks to secret auction for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

The postcard art auction was first run in 2018, in memory of budding artist and pupil, Sophie Maria Taylor and has since raised over £180,000.

Fundraiser feature

This summer, Sophie's Postcard – an online art auction run by St Richards Catholic College in Bexhill-on-Sea – returned for the fourth time, having previously run in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Celebrities, artists, pupils and the general public donated 2,146 pieces of unique artwork that were auctioned on eBay for 10 days in June 2024.

#sophiespostcard is organised by devoted art teacher Miranda Pennington in memory of her former student, Sophie Maria Taylor, who was treated at The Royal Marsden. Sophie sadly passed away from cancer in 2017 at age 12.  

Sophie Taylor smiling for the camera.
Sophie's postcard was set up in memory of Sophie Maria Taylor

Teacher Miranda Pennington said: “We are so thankful to all the artists and supporters of Sophie’s Secret Postcard Auction. The first Sophie’s Postcard was intended to be a one off secret postcard auction, but it was so successful that it will run for the fourth time this summer."

"It is inspirational to see Sophie remembered in this way, as she loved art. I am so proud to be part of this event which has helped make a difference to children like Sophie being treated for cancer at The Royal Marsden.”

Hand-drawn artwork donated by a host of famous names  

Artwork for the auction is donated each year by professional artists, designers and illustrators, as well as children from St Richard’s Catholic College and the general public. Sir Quentin Blake, illustrator Axel Scheffler, TV presenters Lorraine Kelly and Victoria Coren Mitchell and Dame Jacqueline Wilson are just some of the famous names who have donated their hand-drawn artwork in the past. 

Bidders do not know whose work they are bidding on, so part of the fun is trying to recognise the signature style of the hand who drew the artwork. All the postcards have a starting bid of £1 and are auctioned on eBay, and only when the auction closes will the winning bidders find out who the postcards have been created by.

Drawing of upper half of woman's face
Ashleigh by Curtis Holder. Sold at this year's auction for £47.23
Colourful painting of witch riding a broomstick
Winnie & Wilbur broomstick ride by Korky Paul. Sold at this year's auction for £318
Ink drawing of two wizard-like men
Wizards by Thomas Taylor. Sold at this year's auction for £4,177.77
Painting of two women walking on a street, three figures are behind them
Cold by Darren Cairney. Sold at this year's auction for £59
A colourful pencil drawing of a blue eye on cardboard-looking material
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
A painted scene of a sea and sky with blue acrylic paints
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
A detailed painting of a child's face wearing glasses and missing a front tooth
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
An abstract painting of strokes of colours
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
A colourful spray painting of a crow wearing jewellery and decorated in pink and gold hues
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
An orange cartoon octopus surrounded by fish and jellyfish
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
Pip and Posy - an Illustration of a rabbit and a mouse holding blue and yellow balloons
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
A colourful illustration of children's book characters Winnie the Witch and her black cat Wilbur riding on a broom surrounded by stars
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
A realism colour pencil portrait of a blue bird and a portrait of a girl with short dark hair
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
A colourful line work portrait of a woman's face
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Colourful illustration of Harry potter holding a broomstick
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Colourful collages of a pink and purple house
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
A stylistic colourful line-work and watercolour sketch of St Marks Square in Venice
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Graffiti art of a horse and the caption 'Another wall vandalised'
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
faces illustration and crocodile illustration
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Landscape painted in black ink showing an arched bridge
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Watercolour painting of a lake scene with reflections in the water
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Drawing of upper half of woman's face
Ashleigh by Curtis Holder. Sold at this year's auction for £47.23
Colourful painting of witch riding a broomstick
Winnie & Wilbur broomstick ride by Korky Paul. Sold at this year's auction for £318
Ink drawing of two wizard-like men
Wizards by Thomas Taylor. Sold at this year's auction for £4,177.77
Painting of two women walking on a street, three figures are behind them
Cold by Darren Cairney. Sold at this year's auction for £59
A colourful pencil drawing of a blue eye on cardboard-looking material
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
A painted scene of a sea and sky with blue acrylic paints
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
A detailed painting of a child's face wearing glasses and missing a front tooth
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
An abstract painting of strokes of colours
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
A colourful spray painting of a crow wearing jewellery and decorated in pink and gold hues
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
An orange cartoon octopus surrounded by fish and jellyfish
Some of the artworks available at this year's auction
Pip and Posy - an Illustration of a rabbit and a mouse holding blue and yellow balloons
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
A colourful illustration of children's book characters Winnie the Witch and her black cat Wilbur riding on a broom surrounded by stars
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
A realism colour pencil portrait of a blue bird and a portrait of a girl with short dark hair
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
A colourful line work portrait of a woman's face
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Colourful illustration of Harry potter holding a broomstick
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Colourful collages of a pink and purple house
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
A stylistic colourful line-work and watercolour sketch of St Marks Square in Venice
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Graffiti art of a horse and the caption 'Another wall vandalised'
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
faces illustration and crocodile illustration
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Landscape painted in black ink showing an arched bridge
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.
Watercolour painting of a lake scene with reflections in the water
Some of the artworks that have been submitted to the auction over the years.

Raising funds for world-leading cancer research at The Royal Marsden 

Since 2018, the school in Bexhill-on-Sea has raised over £180,000 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity through the creative charity auction.  

Vicky Johnson, Associate Director of Public Fundraising and Engagement at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to St Richard’s Catholic College for their continued support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, in memory of Sophie. The money raised through Sophie’s Postcard funds groundbreaking research at The Royal Marsden, helping to develop life-saving treatments for young cancer patients across the UK and around the world. Thank you to all those who have supported this project and helped make it such a success.”

A painting of a woman's face with red hair and glasses
'Stella' by Caroline Pool, which sold at this year's auction for £185

This year's auction

The fourth Sophie's Postcard ran for 10 days in June 2024, raising over £100,000 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. This is added to the £82,500 already raised since the project started in 2018, helping to fund world-leading research to improve the lives of young cancer patients.
 

Find out more at the Sophie's Postcard website.

Find out more

You might also be interested in

Discover more inspiring stories on our blog.

Read more