ROBERT Lenkiewicz was a world famous artist with a colourful reputation, but he also cared deeply for the less fortunate, especially the homeless.

His son, Reuben, who now has a gallery in the Teignmouth arts quarter, recalls that at Christmas he would help his dad collect food donated by Plymouth restaurants and take it to the bus depot at Bretonside in the centre of the city.

‘We would then feed any of the homeless that came along. This became a tradition for us all. Robert took it very seriously and it only stopped on his death in 2002.’

Now Reuben wants to help people who may have hit rough times and even sleeping in the street.

Today (March 31) he is organising a ‘fun’ auction of one of his father’s ‘beautifully’ restored palettes. It takes place at his Northumberland Place gallery at 3pm, and the sale will be conducted by a professional auctioneer, assisted by Reuben and Stephen Barrett.

Tickets are £10, and all proceeds will go to the Homeless in Teignbridge Support (HITS). There will also be an exhibition of Robert Lenkiewicz palettes.

Reuben added: ‘I was friends with many of the amazing characters who posed for my father. I felt particularly close to them, such as The Bishop, Diogenes, Snowy, Harmonica Jim and Gypsy Jo.

‘These characters were all homeless but larger than life. They were full of unique qualities. They had been wrenched from their past lives by many things such as divorce, bankruptcy, alcoholism or mental illness.

‘They lived hard lives but they were all amazing people with very interesting histories.

‘As a child they were always kind to me, often offering words of wisdom. I want to return that kindness in a small way.

‘That’s what this auction is about for me. I hope this helps in a small way a few people.’

An exhibition of the palettes dating from 1972 to 1995 will take place today and tomorrow, and they will be available for sale.

Stephen Barrett, who has restored them, will talk about the process and his memories of Lenkiewicz.

David Cox, chairman of HITS, described it as ‘fabulous’ gesture by Reuben.

‘He has obviously been brought up to try and help the less fortunate among us and I salute him for that.

‘His presence and new gallery in the town has got to be a big plus for Teignmouth in many ways.’

Several local artists have also donated paintings for the auction.