AN art auction is being held to fund a celebrated artist's cancer treatment.

Brighton-based Simon Dixon, 49, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in May, but said he had it for roughly a year before it was found.

The Naked Eye Gallery in Farm Mews, Hove, will host the auction, which begins at 8pm tomorrow.

Having started painting in 1997, Mr Dixon has made a name for himself locally and nationally for his bold, vibrant pictures of iconic figures such as Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Johnny Rotten.

He has been called 'the daddy of pop art.'

A JustGiving page set up to fund his therapy has garnered more than £5,000 to date.

Mr Dixon has also suffered from two chronic illnesses since his mid-20s, Ulcerative Colitis and Ankylosing Spondylitis, and has had six major operations, the last of which was in 2014.

Mr Dixon reacted negatively to chemotherapy as a result of these pre-existing ailments and he is now seeking alternative treatment.

He said: "I am hoping the money raised will pay for me to spend at least a couple of weeks at a clinic in Germany, where all the best alternative treatments are available.

"I'm not sure which ones yet, but the clinics over there are more like retreats. I need complete rest, care, and somewhere I can recuperate. There isn't anything like that available in the UK, and certainly not on the NHS.

"The conventional treatment, chemotherapy, has really knocked me for six because of my other conditions."

Mr Dixon's own work will be up for sale at the auction as well as that of Antony Mitcallef, Dirk Vermin, Sarah Shaw, Ian Hodgson and others. Those who can't make the auction can bid online.

Auctioneer Nick Toovey said of Dixon's career: "Simon arrived on the Brighton art scene in the mid-90s with bold colour and cultural references that made his work instantly collectable.

"It's a testament to Dixon that so many renowned artists have donated their work, including some created especially for Simon's cause."

To bid in the auction online, visit the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/tooveys/catalogue-id-srtoo10090.

To donate to his cancer treatment fund, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/simondixon.