Teen Photographer Liz Hatton’s Captivating Creations Auctioned for Cancer Research Support

Part of the collection belonging to a 17-year-old photographer who succumbed to cancer will be auctioned to benefit charitable causes.

Liz Hatton, hailing from Harrogate, passed away in November after being diagnosed with an uncommon type of tumor and receiving a prognosis of approximately six months to live.

In her final months, the teenager devoted her time to fulfilling a photography “bucket list”, and was photographed being embraced by Catherine, Princess of Wales, at Windsor Castle last October after being invited to capture images of the Prince of Wales during an investiture ceremony.

Vicky Robayna, Liz’s mother, shared that 12 of her daughter’s photographs would be auctioned, with “every single penny” directed towards cancer research, which constituted Liz’s ultimate wish on her bucket list.

Liz began her photography journey while in Year 6 at school after saving to purchase her first camera.

She achieved the highest grade attainable in the subject during her GCSEs and subsequently pursued A-level studies in photography at Harrogate Grammar School.

Ms. Robayna mentioned that one of the “notably special” images captured by Liz which would be auctioned next month was from the investiture ceremony of Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish.

This photograph depicted Cavendish alongside Prince William and was taken inside Buckingham Palace’s investiture room.

Images from the Royal Ballet and Drag Race UK are also set to be auctioned, in addition to one showcasing a recently deployed helicopter operated by London Air Ambulance.

Mrs. Robayna expressed her sentiments about the auction: “We feel a sense of pride – but she would have felt pride as well.

“Liz experienced immense joy while creating them; she was never truly happier than when she was behind the lens.

“It feels incredible. The notion of her work being displayed in people’s businesses would fulfill Liz’s dream.”

Ms. Robayna noted that her daughter continued to take photographs, such as the air ambulance image, days before she passed, and that pursuing her passion for photography provided Liz with “superhuman strength”.

“We are immensely proud of Liz’s response to her diagnosis,” she added.

“She remarked, ‘I’ve faced one stroke of bad luck followed by 100 good fortunes’.”

Liz’s twelve photographs are included in 250 lots at the auction scheduled for 1 February at Morphets of Harrogate, with attendees also able to place bids online prior to the event.

Mrs. Robayna remarked that the “cherry on top” was that the auctioneers would waive a hammer fee, meaning all funds from the sale of Liz’s images would support cancer research.

Following Liz’s passing, her relatives established an online crowdfunding campaign to gather resources for cancer research, which has nearly achieved the £70,000 milestone already.

In addition, they were organizing a charity to assist other families impacted by desmoplastic small round cell tumor – the illness that Liz endured – which is an uncommon and aggressive form of cancer primarily found in the abdomen and pelvis.

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