PLUCKED from a shelf and hastily scribbled with holiday stories, postcards are rarely something to treasure.

But Sobell House is challenging artists to use the greetings cards as a tiny canvas, creating miniature masterpieces in memory of a former patient.

Family and friends of Abingdon resident Beth Foreman, who died at Sobell aged just 32, have launched the campaign to fundraise for the Headington hospice.

My Lovely Postcards invites Oxfordshire artists to create and donate a postcard-sized piece of artwork for auction, by the deadline this Friday.

Family friend Veronica Brooks, who set up the project, said Miss Foreman was a creative person and it seemed 'very appropriate' to honour that.

She added: "Like all the Foreman family and friends, I was devastated by the all too sudden death of such a lively, creative young woman as Beth."

Miss Foreman, who was an area manager at retailer Cala Shoes, died at Sobell in May 2016 shortly after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

She grew up in Watlington and had a degree in fashion design.

Her brother Guy Foreman, 42, said: "It was obviously an incredibly painful and very difficult situation for us to cope with, particularly as it happened so quickly and she was so young. But the care at Sobell and the [John] Radcliffe was just fantastic.

"The nurses at Sobell in particular; it was their bedside manner and ability to empathise with Beth."

The family set up a fundraising campaign called Beth's Bursary Fund, to pay for additional skills training for the hospice's specialist palliative nurses.

Mr Foreman, who lives in Buckinghamshire, said: "We wanted to help palliative care nurses to carry on their supportive and vital work, making people's last time much less painful, not just physically but emotionally."

My Lovely Postcards will feed into the fund.

The initiative's name was partly inspired by the affectionate term 'my lovely', which Miss Foreman's dad Neil often used to address her.

Artists can contribute a 6" by 4" two-dimensional piece of art, which will go on display at The Jam Factory in Oxford from October 11.

The four-week exhibition will be followed by an online auction, and donors so far include local artists Malcolm Moseley, Steve Brooks and Frieda Hughes.

Libby Aley, who is on Sobell House's fundraising team, said: "The passion Beth's friends and family have shown throughout their fundraising efforts is incredible, and we are so very thankful to them.

"This campaign is so appropriate since Beth was a very creative person and loved art. We really hope the local community get involved and help us raise vital funds in her memory."

To find out more contact Sobell on 01865 857008 or email libby.aley@sobellhospice.org.