Four sets of limited edition prints by renowned Aberdeen artist Eric Auld will go under the hammer this month to raise money for charity.
Mr Auld’s widow Pat donated the Deeside Journey prints to help four north-east friends raise as much money as possible for Clan Cancer Support and Crohn’s and Colitis UK.
Each set contains 12 images of the north-east, with Braemar, Loch Kinord, Craigendarroch, Culter Golf Club and Aberdeen Harbour all featuring.
Husband and wife duos Kelly and Ryan Rae and Karen and Jonny Mountford received the sets after appealing for support for their fundraising walk along the River Dee later this month.
The group will walk the 87-mile route in five days, and have been training hard with treks up Bennachie, Lochnagar and to Banchory and back.
Mr Mountford said the group had been thrilled to be contacted by Mrs Auld offering up the prints, and that they hoped they would help them raise as much as possible for the two charities.
Five sets, worth £150 each, were donated, and four will be sold to the highest bidders in a silent auction while the last one will be raffled.
Mr Mountford, of Newmachar, said: “When I went to see Pat she said that her husband had been a big fan of Deeside, and the route we’re taking is pretty much the prints that are in the set.
“We decided the auction would be the best way to raise extra money for the charities, as Eric Auld is so well respected throughout the north-east and we know people will want these.”
Bids are now being taken for the silent auction, which will close on July 27 – the day before the group set off.
They will start from Coylumbridge in Aviemore, and will be trying to stay by the river as much as possible.
The raffle will be drawn after they return, and other prizes include a meal at Castle Fraser, a glove signed by local boxer Matty McAllister and John Lewis vouchers.
The e-mail address we would be looking for the bids to sent to is walkingthedee@hotmail.com
To submit a bid for the prints, e-mail walkingthedee@hotmail.com
To sponsor the group, who are aiming to raise £5,000 for Clan and Crohn’s and Colitis UK, visit
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/WalkingTheDee