Cushing's art in hospice calendar

Peter Cushing painted the harbour in his home town of Whitstable

Paintings by the late actor Peter Cushing are being used in the charity calendar of the Kent hospice that cared for him before his death in 1994.

The works are described as "postcard views" in the 2008 calendar for Pilgrims Hospices in east Kent.

Cushing, who moved to Whitstable in 1959, was a resident at the organisation's Canterbury centre during his long battle with cancer.

He made his name in the Hammer horror films and also played Sherlock Holmes.

He died at the age of 81, having starred in more than 100 films and television shows.

'Modest' painter

A friend of Cushing's, Bernard Broughton, said the actor was also a talented landscape painter.

"They [Cushing's works] bring out his love of the open air and of the countryside," he said.

"They were a great comfort to Peter, he loved to produce them, but he was most modest about them."

The Pilgrims Hospices have always included patients' artwork in calendars, and fund-raising manager Lindsay Goode said using Cushing's paintings was too good an opportunity to miss.

"It just seemed to be ideal that we should put them all into a calendar reflecting Peter's skills," Mr Goode said.

There are also hospices in Margate and Ashford.