A Tenby based artist has created a ‘thank you’ card to honour the incredible fundraising feats of Captain Tom Moore.

Captain Tom’s mission to walk 100 laps of his garden during the pandemic to raise funds for the NHS has inspired the nation - and along the way, a host of artists with their own creative tributes.

The 99-year-old captain initially aimed to raise £1,000 by doing 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday on April 30, but his fundraising efforts has raised nearly £28m for NHS charities so far.

Tenby based contemporary artist Tom Sloan, who originally hails from Newport, Gwent, has painted an original Captain Tom Moore piece of artwork after a request from local veterans charity The VC Gallery to produce a birthday card to send to the man himself, ahead of the milestone occasion.

Founded by Barry John MBE in 2013, the VC Gallery which has hubs in Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock, is a voluntary charity for veterans and the community, that offers help and support through creative active engagement to people of all ages, with mental and physical disabilities, and to those who may be suffering from social isolation.

Tom who exhibited at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery earlier this year as part of the VC Gallery Power of Pembrokeshire is line to exhibit a solo show at the Tenby venue in 2021.

Tom who moved to Tenby nearly four years ago with his wife Daniella and daughters Ava and Molly, has also just completed the first week of the ‘Wales Art challenge’ with the theme of the ‘NHS’.

He also created a mural for Saint Teilo’s Catholic Primary School in Tenby in recent years, where his children attend.

“As a professional artist Pembrokeshires beauty and especially Tenby is the ideal place to practice my trade,” said Tom.

“My expressive contemporary art style, has been greatly received and after a request from the guys at the VC Gallery to get involved with the great work they do I was excited to do so, and now I’m doing regular workshops and events at and with the VC on a weekly basis, including our recent exhibition at Tenby museum and art gallery in January.

“From my studio in Tenby I will use the ‘lockdown’ period during this Coronavirus time to continue to create my artwork and spread positive thoughts and images at the same time!” he added.

Tom says he loves to use a variety of mediums including spray paint, acrylics and inks for his work, and does not like to limit himself to a single medium as he finds this restrictive to his creative process.

Famous faces, music, popular culture, landscapes, townscapes and architecture are among Tom’s biggest inspirations, and regardless of the subject matter, his work is easily recognisable with his signature style, use of bright colour and loose instinctive mark making.

Captain Moore a Second World War veteran who lives in the Bedfordshire Village of Marston Moretaine has been taken to the nation’s heart after completing his challenge on April 16, ahead of schedule, but has said he will continue walking to raise money for the fight against coronavirus.

He has also recorded a version of You’ll Never Walk Alone with singer Michael Ball and the Voice of Care Choir, which is expected to reach number one in the UK Chart this week, with proceeds going towards the appeal.

You can see more of Tenby artist Tom Sloan’s work at https://tomsloanart.co.uk or by following his Facebook page at ‘tomsloanartist’