Teen photographer's work sold for cancer research

Some of the work of a 17-year-old photographer who lost her life to cancer is to go under the hammer to raise money for charity.

Liz Hatton, from Harrogate, died in November after being diagnosed with a rare type of tumour and being told she had about six months left to live.

The teenager spent her last months completing a photography "bucket list", and was pictured being hugged by Catherine, Princess of Wales, at Windsor Castle in October after being invited to take pictures of the Prince of Wales at an investiture.

Liz's mum, Vicky Robayna, said 12 of her daughter's images would go up for auction, with "every single penny" going to cancer research, which was Liz's final bucket list wish.

Liz took up photography while she was in Year 6 at school after saving up to buy her first camera.

She gained the highest grade possible in the subject at GCSE, before starting an A-level in the subject at Harrogate Grammar School.

Ms Robayna said one of the "particularly special" photographs taken by Liz which would go under the hammer next month was taken at the investiture of Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish.

The picture showed Cavendish and Prince William and was captured inside the investiture room at Buckingham Palace.

Photographs from the Royal Ballet and from Drag Race UK would also go up for sale at the auction, as well as one showing a brand new helicopter operated by London Air Ambulance in action.

Mrs Robayna said of the auction: "We are proud - but she would be proud, too.

"Liz had the most wonderful time taking them, she was never, ever happier than when she was behind the camera.

"It feels amazing. The idea of her work being hung in people's businesses would be a dream come true for Liz."

Ms Robayna said her daughter was still taking pictures, such as the image of the air ambulance in flight, days before she died - and carrying on with her photography gave Liz "superhuman strength".

"We are so proud of how Liz approached her diagnosis," she added.

"She said, 'I've had one piece of bad luck and 100 pieces of good luck followed'."

Liz's 12 images are among 250 lots at the auction due to take place at Morphets of Harrogate on 1 February, with people also able to bid online ahead of the event.

Mrs Robayna said the "icing on the cake" was that the auctioneers would not charge a hammer fee, so all the proceeds from the sale of Liz's photographs would go towards cancer research.

After Liz's death, her family set up an online crowdfunding page to raise money for cancer research which has already almost reached the £70,000 mark.

Meanwhile, they also planned to set up a charity to help other families affected by desmoplastic small round cell tumour - the condition from which Liz suffered - which is a rare and aggressive cancer that primarily occurs in the abdomen and pelvis.

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