Background Bob art to be sold on ebay for Colchester Hospital charity

Nathan Jones started helping his son, Noah, paint on pieces of cardboard as a lockdown activity back in May.

Noah, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and hydrocephalus, is a keen artist and his dad decided to reach out on social media to ask artists from across the globe to consider collaborating with him.

The family was overwhelmed with the response and Noah then painted a colourful background on to some card before the artist added their own signature stylings on top.

The vibrant designs captured people’s imagination and Noah’s fame spread across the world.

Noah's charity book for hospital

In total more than 200 street artists and celebrities joined in with the project, including artists Ange Bell and Heath Kane and comedian Phill Jupitus.

Noah became better known as Background Bob and all of the work was brought together in a book of the same name.

Read more:

• Background Bob artwork collaboration to go on display at Firstsite
• Noah's art featured in picture book for Colchester Hospital

It sold out in record time, raising £18,000 for Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity, which will go towards the children’s department at Colchester Hospital.

Now Noah’s original works will be going under the hammer on auction site eBay to raise further funds for the charity, which supports NHS staff and services within the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust.

Paint - REN NL and Background Bob's piece

Nathan said: “We would love to say a huge thank you to all the artists who contributed to this wonderful project, those who have helped along the way, as well as all the supporters.

“You now all have a chance to own a beautiful part of our project, please bid generously, it’s all for a great cause and the funds raised will really change people’s lives.”

The work going under the hammer features everything from wildlife, superheroes and Lego to artistic tributes to famous paintings, such as the Mona Lisa and Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Using a palette of vibrant colours Noah creates bold, confident abstract shapes which artists then add to on top.

The works have been such a success they were displayed at Colchester art gallery Firstsite in the autumn and Noah now has almost 5,000 followers on his Instagram page.

Wildlife - Noah and Holly Mia Saunders collaborated on this piece

Mandy Jordan, associate director of charity and voluntary services at the foundation trust, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Noah and his family, as well as the artists who gave up their time to contribute to this fantastic project, for choosing to support our charity.

“Every single piece which Noah and his collaborators have created is vibrant and unique and will make a stunning addition to any home.

“We’d encourage art lovers everywhere to log on to next week’s auction and take the chance to secure some truly original artwork which is guaranteed to raise a smile.”

Noah's charity book for hospital

The auction starts at 6pm on Sunday, February 28, and will run for a week.

To find the pieces, search for Background Bob at www.ebay.co.uk.

For more information about Background Bob, visit his Instagram page @background_bob.