A BOOK containing dozens of stunning portraits of Wee County key workers has gone on sale this week, raising funds for three good causes.

Artist Karen Strang, who has been painting portraits of Clacks key workers for free since the early days of the coronavirus lockdown, has this week released book.

Titled Local Key Worker Heroes – Caring through Covid in Clackmannanshire, the body of works is not only paying tribute to people who kept essential services going, it is also a historical record of the pandemic in the area.

Karen, who was signing early bird copies from her Marcelle House studio in Alloa earlier this week (pictured), said: "I'm feeling really good.

"Even before it hit the streets we made a few hundred pounds from the sales for charity, which is great.

"Get your copy quick before they run out."

Indeed, customers kept turning up as the Advertiser spoke to the artist, who went out of her comfort zone in tackling the mammoth project to paint portraits from images submitted, rather than from life as she normally would.

Many were buying as a way of paying tribute, while others were planning to place them in time capsules for the future, as a way of documenting the global health crisis within the Wee County.

In the book, Karen gave thanks to Kit Gow from Opening More Doors for advice, the Earl of Mar and Kellie for writing the foreword and John Marshall of Beatsons for covering the material costs of production, which is allowing proceeds to go to charity.

Thanks also go to Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface, Resonate for publicity posters, Artlink Central and Alloa First.

Karen also gave a nod of appreciation to the publication team of Heather Dowd, Hazel Meldrum, photographer Alan Paterson and the key workers themselves, who were all nominated by the community to be immortalised on canvas.

At the time of writing, the book was on sale at Optimise Wellness Centre in Alva where the café previously hosted an exhibition of some of the works.

The Wee Gallery on Alloa's Candleriggs was due to sell them as well while Karen is hoping to get the book on the shelves of more shops around the Wee County.

People will also have a chance to pick up a copy at next week's Alloa First Friday Market while Karen will be bringing copies to the car park of her Marcelle House studio on Saturdays between 1pm and 4pm.

Proceeds from the sales will be split between the good causes of Ochils Mountain Rescue Team, Home-Start Clackmannanshire and Strathcarron Hospice.