Grayson Perry joins artists' campaign for Syria refugees

Grayson Perry has joined Syrian refugees in producing art to be auctioned for charity.

The Postcards For Syria project was created by the British Red Cross to mark five years of the Syrian conflict.

Contributors include Perry and comedian Shazia Mirza, as well as Syrian artists Tammam Azzam, Mohammad Omran and Diala Brisly, who have produced artworks, poems or messages for the eBay auction.

School children from Scotland, Devon and Yorkshire have also contributed cards on the themes of hope, home and humanity. They join the Syrian refugees who have produced work reflecting on their personal experiences.

Sleman Shwaish, a refugee service co-ordinator with the British Red Cross, fled Aleppo, Syria, in 2012.

He said: "When conflict broke out in Syria, everything in my life changed. I left my studies, my family, my home. I think of Syria every day.

"This project is a way for all of us, Syrians and citizens of the world, to express our feelings and our solidarity," he said.

With more than 13 million people inside Syria in need of aid, proceeds from the auction will support the Red Cross volunteers, who are some of the only ones able to work on the frontline.

The auction begins at 7pm on Sunday March 13 and lasts until March 20. Proceeds will go to the British Red Cross Syria appeal.

The postcards will be displayed from March 14-18 at British Red Cross headquarters in Moorfields, London.

The auction can be accessed, along with an online gallery, at www.redcross.org.uk/postcardsforsyria