LONDON.- Stunning paintings of famous Glastonbury performances are being auctioned in a ground-breaking initiative to raise money for Greenpeace. The paintings by Kurt Jackson, the festival’s celebrated artist-in-residence, include one of Radiohead’s 2003 performance on the Pyramid stage, painted by Jackson during the gig. The twenty-nine works of art – including Glastonbury landscapes and paintings and sketches of Lily Allen, Massive Attack and Neil Young – will be sold in aid of the Greenpeace Environmental Trust. Fourteen are open for bids on Ebay until the 2nd of June.

This is the first time Jackson , described by the FT as ‘one of Britain 's most compelling contemporary painters’, has auctioned his work on-line. Fans of his work are often disappointed at gallery sales due to work being bought before being exhibited, but this auction offers an opportunity for Glastonbury festival goers to snap up the ultimate souvenir. The paintings will also be on display at a free exhibition in the Bargehouse Gallery at Oxo Tower Wharf from Wednesday the 2nd of June until Sunday the 6th.

Michael Eavis, the founder of Glastonbury , describes how Kurt started documenting the festival:"My daughter Juliet, who lives next door to Kurt, phoned me years ago to tell me of his amazing work. We were all immediately convinced of his artistic skills and he was appointed our "Artist in Residence". From then on all is now history as his terrific ability speaks for itself. His paintings hang all around the world, portraying the unique atmospheric colours and shades of perfection that our Festival creates."

Jackson who creates his dynamic and exciting work in the unpredictable environment of the festival, said: "Fun and politics are a great mix – so… I go to Glastonbury Festival to work – I sketch and draw and paint and scribble above the crowds, in the crowds, under peoples feet, in their faces; I aim to immerse myself in the Glastonbury experience and come away with some kind of record on paper showing what I’ve seen, felt and experienced.”

The exhibition comes just before the 40th anniversaries of both the Glastonbury Festival and Greenpeace. The two have been intimately entwined throughout the years with Greenpeace running its own field since 1995. Jackson describes the close relationship he has with both:

"The great thing about Glastonbury is that it’s about fun and delight (and a bit of hedonism) but also engages with the serious issues of the future of the planet and our environment. Forty years of Glastonbury – I’ve been at most of them, I’ve painted over a quarter of them. Greenpeace has also been there throughout my life and their fortieth is coming up. Glastonbury and Greenpeace have become entwined, woven together as an important strand of my working and political life."

For more information go to http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/kurtjackson