Local artists are putting their talents and brushes to good use, donating works to fundraise for the Rural Fire Service

Orange Art Society president David Mason said their members, like countless other Australians, were looking at how they could help in the wake of the devastating bushfire around the country

“So we've come up with the idea that we’ll do an auction and sale of paintings that have been donated by local artist and not so local artists — we've got quite a few from around the state who have donated works as well,” said David

“We have got works donated by Ted Lewis, Jane Tyack and Joy Engelman to name a few! And we have had a Greg Turner Original donated as well.”

About 50 works have been donated to the cause and are now hanging in the Orange Art Society gallery, located in the Cultural Centre, Sale Street, and accessible from the Woolworths Carpark.

They will be available for viewing (and some even for sale) for the next few weeks right up until the auction night on 22 February.

“As we have been getting them in we've been hanging them in the gallery, so if anyone wants to have a look they are there ready to go,” said David.

“Some works will only be auctioned, but others are happy if someone comes in and makes a reasonable offer, they'll take it!

“We have already received financial donations and our first sale from Daffyd Vernon. He has only just started work and wanted to help the RFS. So he purchased his first work of art and was delighted that this was going to help the RFS.”

The Orange Art Society is hoping to raise at least $40,000 though their art sale and auction. All the money raised will be donated to the Rural Fire Service

The auction will be held at 7pm Saturday 22 February with the gallery open from 5pm. The gallery will be open most days until the auction for people to view the available works.