Harrogate artist runs up painted truncheons for ex-officer’s 120-marathon epic

But her latest commission is different – she has been asked to create images on police truncheons.

“It is 100 per cent the most unusual artistic work I have been asked to do,” said Ms Baxter of Harrogate.

Ms Baxter, who runs Claire Baxter Fine Art in Pateley Bridge, has been tasked with painting the traditional batons for charity runner Graham Wilson, a former policeman.

“It is a challenge. I’m used to painting on a flat surface so this is rather different. And I tend to use oils and the batons involve acrylic,” she said.

Ms Baxter, who is also the official artist for the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race, has created two batons for Mr Watson who plans to run 120 marathons in 120 days.

It was supposed to happen from March 21 but this has been postponed for an initial three months because of the coronavirus crisis,

The event will be self-funded covering 120 marathons in eight countries, a total distance of 3,180 miles or the equivalent of running from Leeds to New York.

The marathons will be in the 48 English counties, as well as Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal, plus Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Mr Watson, who will also run a marathon on a ferry during a 24-hour sailing, believes he will make seven million steps.

He will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, the Police Treatment Centre, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the Harrogate Homeless Project and Living with CAH (Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia) among others, Visit www.120marathonman.org for details.