A WHITEFIELD artist got "on board" to help victims of the Nepal earthquake while sailing on the world's most expensive cruise liner.

Anthony John Conway had prints made of 13 of his paintings as he and his wife Trudie enjoyed a two-week cruise on the P&O liner Britannia, launched by the Queen in March.

The 71-year-old artist's prints were bid for via a ship auction and also went on sale to other passengers.

Mr Conway, of Peveril Close, explained: "While on the cruise from Southampton to Madeira and back, we heard that many of the Nepalese crew had their homes destroyed in the earthquake. I approached P&O and told them I had work with me.

"It was arranged for those involved in the ship's magazine to take prints of 13 of my paintings to go up for auction and also to go on sale. They did a wonderful job. I had actually been painting while on board and I'd also a lot of paintings with me. Mainly, I paint scenes of Manchester from around 1900 to 1960.

"The ship also organised a fun run and other events and £5,000 was raised altogether."

Mr Conway has been an artist for more than 50 years. He trained as a teacher, specialising in art, at Manchester University, and went on to work as an art teacher for 26 years at Manchester's King David Junior School. But after suffering a heart attack in 1991, he retired and has been a professional artist ever since.

Mr Conway, a member of the Whitefield Painting Club for 15 years, will have an exhibition of his works at the Maccabi Community & Sports Club in Bury Old Road, Prestwich, between September 1 and October 30.