Climber's sister takes his artwork to world

Denali Schmidt's self portrait.

The sister of Denali Schmidt, who was killed with his mountaineer father in an avalanche on K2 last year, is fundraising to take her brother's art on a world tour.

Sequoia Di Angelo is using crowdfunding website Kickstarter to launch a 53-day appeal for donations to raise the $328,020 needed to take Mr Schmidt's artwork through America, and on to London, Berlin, Sydney, and Wellington.

The Peak Inspirations exhibition will also raise money for a foundation started in Mr Schmidt's name.

The 25-year-old and his father Marty Schmidt, 53, died last July while trying to be the first father and son mountaineers to conquer the world's second highest peak, in Pakistan.

The pair, regarded as strong and experienced climbers, were swept to their deaths by an avalanche a day after the rest of their party turned back.

Just months before the tragedy Mr Schmidt, who was born in Australia but who spent part of his childhood in New Zealand, graduated from art school in San Francisco where he had painted haunting images of mountains and climbers.

Ms Di Angelo said her older brother began drawing and painting at 2, and loved nature, movement and people.

A Denali Schmidt work painted months before the tragedy is titled Between Flying and Falling.

"His vision was to express his passion and experience in the outdoors in art forms others could view."

It's hoped $10,000 will be raised through ticket sales at each of the eight cities on the tour for the Denali Foundation, a charity aimed at preserving Mr Schmidt's work and growing the minds of young artists.

To make a donation, which gets entry to the exhibit, visit kickstarter.com from tomorrow and search for Denali Schmidt, or for more information email info@peakinspirations.com