ART enthusiasts have answered a plea to breach a shortfall in funding which means the first book on a Letchworth GC artist can now be published.

In January The Comet reported how Ros Allwood, cultural services manager at North Herts District Council (NHDC), was asking for public donations to ensure a book on artist William Ratcliffe, who in lived in Letchworth GC for many years during the early twentieth century, could be produced by North Herts Museum Service.

More than 35 people responded to raise the extra �1500 needed for the book, following grants from Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, Letchworth Civic Trust, Letchworth Garden City Society and the Exhibition Cottages Group.

Several people sent more than the �50 asked for with �100 donations and one gave �200 towards the costs.

The book, to be launched on June 24 at Letchworth Museum, will be illustrated with 100 full-colour reproductions of oils, watercolours, prints and drawings while the text will focus on Ratcliffe’s life and artistic development from designing wallpaper and cards to becoming a full-time artist.

Ros said: “People have been so kind – there is a strong feeling that William Ratcliffe deserves to be better known and the subscribers are happy to pay in order to ensure that we can publish 100 Ratcliffe paintings and drawings from the North Herts collections. It is all very exciting.”