INTERNATIONALLY-acclaimed photographer Rankin paid tribute to the amazing work of Claire House during the unveiling of an exhibition that is to be auctioned in aid of the hospice.

The photographer, director and author - who is patron of the Bebington-based children’s hospice - was at the Museum Of Liverpool on Thursday for the launch of It’s Glam Up North: Curated by Rankin, which is on view until December 6.

Described by the London-based artist as an ‘eclectic’ collection it features work by celebrated artists, film-makers, fashion and graphic designers as well as pieces by Rankin himself.

The collection will be auctioned-off on November 21.

He said: “It’s a selection of work that I’ve collated from artists that I love to support Claire House.

“Liverpool is the most beautiful museum that I’ve been to. The work’s fantastic and I’m really excited to be presenting it.”

Rankin is a patron of Claire House having been introduced to their work during the run of his exhibition ALIVE: In The Face of Death at the Walker Art Gallery in 2013. Last week the hospice was rated "outstanding" by the Care Quality Commission and also received a community award in Wirral Business Awards.

Congratulating them on their success, Rankin said “It’s a fantastic achievement. I had no idea at first that that they had to self-finance the work they do.

“I naively thought it was supported by Government until I went there a few years ago and I couldn’t be more impressed by what they do to help families.

“The minute I found out what they did I wanted to help. I only do a few things every now and then but it’s fantastic to be involved.”

On the new exhibition, he said: “I didn’t just want it to be my work. We came up with the idea that if you live up North you’ll know the kind of humour they have and the warmth they.

“The exhibition title is a kind of flip on the expression ‘it’s grim up North’. It’s not grim up north, it’s just a grumpy, ironic expression.

“It’s eclectic because my tastes are eclectic. I didn’t want it to be just fine art.”

Also exhibiting are brothers Dan, Tom and Sam Lloyd, from Wallasey, who have duchenne muscular dystrophy and attend Claire House.

Dan told the Globe: “We feel quite blessed to have the opportunity, because we do art and design as our career anyway, and it’s an opportunity to get our work out there. Our work is a combined effort, but it shows off our individual talents.

“It’s good getting in this exhibition with Rankin, who’s an established photographer.

The London-born photographer and director - real name John Rankin Waddell - had his big break in publishing, founding the seminal monthly magazine Dazed & Confused with Jefferson Hack in 1992.

He also created landmark editorial and advertising campaigns for Nike, Swatch, Dove and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

He has shot covers for Elle, German Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone and Wonderland.

He has also published more than 30 books and is regularly exhibited in galleries around the world, as well as his own London gallery. In 2011, Rankin Film Productions was born.

He’s off to Germany to curate an art show called Less Is More, because, as he explained: “I’m getting a bit more minimalist in my old age.

“I’m just doing what I do. I’ve always been very excited about other people’s work, not just my own. So, I’ve wanted to curate and give other people a platform to display their stuff on.

“I’m still doing it and am hungry to see other people do well and succeed.”

David Pastor, chief executive at Claire House, said: “When you think of glamour, you don’t necessarily think of a children’s hospice, but Claire House is all about families living their lives to the full, which for many is the very essence of glamour.

“The children and young people from Claire House thoroughly enjoyed putting their own spin on It’s Glam Up North, creating special pieces that will be exhibited alongside the other works to raise vital funds for the charity.”