ASHES hero Sir Ian Botham has launched the summer exhibition at According To McGee, the Tower Street contemporary art gallery in York.

At a packed exclusive viewing on Sunday, England cricketer and Sky Sports commentator Sir Ian chatted to collectors, posed for photos, and even collaborated on a canvas with Dubai artist Jim Wheat of Dollarsandart.

The canvas will be auctioned, with all proceeds going to York charity New Visuality, as part of New York, YOU York, Jim's inaugural British solo show.

"This is one of the most multi-faceted projects overseen by According To McGee," says gallery director Greg McGee. "I've had some people querying the Beefy Botham connection, but when you think about Sir Ian's charitable achievements, and how New Visuality benefits from this exhibition, it makes perfect sense."

New Visuality worked closely with young people with disabilities on preventative exercise and digital creativity, integrating the work created in their art sessions with Jim's vivid paintings.

"As ever, the work looks great, and Sir Ian was mightily impressed with the likes of Dani Wilson's My Ability Is Stronger Than My Disability," says co-director Ails McGee. "His finishing touches to Jim's painted canvas is up for auction, and we're taking bids, with all proceeds going back into our charity.

"We're grateful to Jim for arranging Sir Ian's involvement. As UK patron of Dollarsandart, and as Dollarsandart is all about sport and art, his presence really endowed the day with a sense of event."

Sir Ian enjoyed his day in York. "It was a great pleasure to open Jim's show supporting New Visuality. I'm impressed with how he's developed his work and recommend attending New York, YOU York this month."

Jim's naive and relentless focus on the dollar motif in his work is a departure for According To McGee, as Greg explains. "The Holy Grail for most contemporary artists is that childlike sense of wonder and mischief. This stuff is bursting with that. There's also something heavier and more philosophical in the constant focus on the American dollar," he says.

"Jim believes that the only way for true global equality is through financial aid, relief of foreign debt, and the obligation for us all to donate to charities. So for him, it's not money that's the root of all evil, but lack of money that causes such social disparity.

"He's based in Dubai and has seen it for himself, up close. That concept interested us as much as his vivid mark making, and also helped, I suppose, to strengthen the Ian Botham link."

Jim concurs: "In Dubai, as in everywhere, money talks, but it doesn't have to be about bling. The dollar motif is an international reality, and for all capitalism's faults, I've seen for myself what benefits financial aid can bring.

"I also thought that what with York's recent developments, with its UNESCO status and its embrace of charity in its tribute to Detroit Soup with its own York Soup, this was an interesting time to mix in an international vibe. With New York, YOU York, I've put a lot of effort into flipping the old adage around: you don't give until it hurts, you give until you feel good."

For Greg, the bigger picture is how to weave an exhibition and its accompanying strands into the city's cultural landscape. "Make no mistake, this is a 'Make It York' project. It's outward looking, it's inclusive, and it has the energy that is so indicative of York's recent accomplishments," he says.

"It reflects well on all us, and we're already talking to Jim about his plans to bring a 2016 sequel to the gallery. He's started work on the collection, and has a concept in place. The show will be called Quest, and will be about 'taking us further down the rabbit hole'.

"In the meantime, his latest collection is here, it looks great, and we're grateful to Sir Ian Botham for giving the work his seal of approval."

On the exhibition's final weekend, on August 1 and 2, Jim will paint a metre-by-metre canvas live as part of an exhibition celebration. All are welcome.

New York, YOU York runs at According To McGee, Tower Street, York, until August 2.