The Willow Foundation is a national charity established in 1999 by Arsenal footballer Bob Wilson and his wife Megs in memory of their daughter Anna. The charity assists some of the estimated 12,500 people in the UK, aged 16–40, who are diagnosed every year with a life-threatening illness. December 2008 saw the completion of the charity's Stars on Canvas campaign where noted celebrities painted a canvas in order for it to be auctioned and raise money for the charity.[1]
Stars on Canvas was a high profile charity event held in December 2008 involving numerous famous celebrities, sports personalities, artists, actors and comedians. Each star was asked to create an art image on canvas that portrayed aspects of their personality and character.
Among the celebrities who donated their art were actors Sir Richard Attenborough, John Hurt and Jude Law, artists Peter Blake, Karen Burt, Sara Abbott, and Jamie McCartney, comedians Michael "Atters" Attree[2], Steve Coogan, Matt Lucas, Catherine Tate and London Mayor Boris Johnson[3]