In pictures: Ukraine's Michael Velychko paintings in Wivenhoe

The exhibition of original oil paintings by Michael Velychko was shown for the second week in October at the residential Sentinel Gallery in Wivenhoe.

John Eborn, 73, - who has his own Medder Gallery based in Lavenham in Suffolk - organised the exhibition.

John was first contacted by Michael, 30, in 2017 before the Ukraine war started, regarding buying paintings, and was contacted by Michael for help distributing paintings when the war broke out.

Gallery - The Sentinel Gallery is a gallery in Wivenhoe with the top floor being a residential property (Image: Newsquest) John, who has never met Michael in person, developed a friendship with Michael after the war started and said of his friend: “He needs to produce art because it’s keeping him sane and it also keeping up the awareness.

“The little I do is keeping up the awareness.”

Support - John Eborn with a birthday card print of one of Michael's painting (Image: Newsquest) Due to the time it takes for oil paintings to fully dry, Michael is often painting two or three at a time, sometimes using shared colours for the paintings, and has been very prolific during the war - painting dozens as an artistic response and outlet due to the war. 

Landscape - This is a landscape inspired by the Carpathian mountain lakes in Ukraine (Image: Newsquest)John said, as Michael is limited to his apartment in Kyiv "which is not a huge studio", art is a way for Michael to stay connected to the outside world with many paintings based on photo or imagination.

Friendship - This painting was inspired by John's own Lavenham pub The Swan (Image: Newsquest) This is reflected in the paintings of British subjects ranging from a pub in Lavenham, Michael has never seen but John described, to Twiggy, to an idyllic invented scene with dogs in Constable County.  

The paintings are posted from Ukraine, including the frames which are chosen by the artist per the ‘traditional style’, and John also said they are priced at a reasonable point for art - especially compared to London galleries.

Frames - Michael also chooses the frame, which in this case had to be restored in Britain after the post officer was bombed with this painting luckily surviving (Image: Newsquest) Some of Michael’s paintings have already sold including ‘Greek Island Oranges’ – pictured with Michael – which was sold to an assistant manager of a “very upmarket” art gallery for his own home.

Winter - Ukraine's strong winter was captured in this painting (Image: Newsquest) John said: “My career was in property, but I love art - I got a small qualification from Cambridge, extramural, in the history of art.”

“This is modern art, recently created art, but because Michael has a BA in fine art, he’s got the same sort of details that I learned about."

Teacher - John said Michael Velychko was a great teacher of art for him (Image: Submitted)John said that he also learned a lot from Michael, adding “for people who are interested, he’s a great teacher”.

All proceeds of the paintings sold go to Michael Velychko - with a proportion of the several paintings sold when in the Sentinel Gallery going to the venue's Rob George Foundation. 

To find out more about purchasing a painting or cards or 2025 calendar email themeddergallery@gmail.com