Porthleven artist Jim Tinley crowdfunder total reached

Jim Tinley's widow Sue and his have teamed up with the Porthleven Arts CIC to create a legacy of his work, following his death in November 2018.

They set up a crowdfunder to help raise £11,500 to create a retrospective book of his drawings and paintings, to honour his work and inspire future generations of young artists – a cause close to his heart, having taught art at Helston School.

Now, having reached their initial target, the crowdfunding has been given a 'stretch target' of £15,000, with any extra money now raised in the final four days will create a legacy and continue Jim's work as an art teacher by funding community projects and school art resources locally.

Thanking everyone for their support of the project, Sue said: "We’ve done it – we’ve hit and overshot the target!

"Just a thought and a reminder that any monies raised over the target will go towards a Tinley Art Legacy to help and encourage future generations of young artists.

"Once again, thank you everybody who has made this happen, it’s truly momentous."

Artist Jim Tinley died in November 2018

Jim was a Porthleven-based artist and art teacher who spent three decades recording the characters in and around his home of Porthleven in pencil and oil.

From the 1970s through to the late 1990s he created hundreds of paintings and drawings of local people, and was the founder of a community art movement in Porthleven which he started with other artists in The Breageside Studios.

A brief, nine-day exhibition of his work at the Old Artis Studios warehouse on Mount Pleasant Road saw more than 7,000 visitors.

The limited edition hardback book that will now be produced will celebrate Jim's life's work and the history of the people of Porthleven between the 1970s and 1990s.

Jim painted people around him in Porthleven

Porthleven CIC said: "It is such a fleeting moment in time and this is our one chance to record his artwork as well as the three decades of history of the people of Porthleven. We are working with the Porthleven-based Ocean Agency to create this publication.

"Jim’s work is culturally important for Cornwall and in particular the history of Porthleven. Jim was especially keen to record the village's ‘old characters’, such as retired fishermen who used to gather in the old men’s shelter to chat and play cards, people drinking in pubs, people working and children playing.

"This exhibition and book is important not only for Jim's friends, family and those who love his artwork but to capture and record the history of the people of a Cornish fishing town and show Jim's work to a new generation."

As well as publishing his artwork the project will be recording and listening to the stories surrounding each work, adding new stories to the history of Porthleven that would otherwise be lost, in conjunction with Porthleven Museum.

To donate to the crowfunder visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-jim-tinley-retrospective-book-and-exhibition The deadline for donations is 6pm on Wednesday.

Pledges of £30 or more will receive a limited edition hardback copy of the Jim Tinley book, while for just £10 people will receive a limited edition print of a Jim Tinley pen and ink landscape drawing in or around Porthleven.

For a pledge of £500 or more, as well as copies of the book the donor's name or business logo will be included in the publication and they will be thanked as a sponsor.