Grab a mini masterpiece

THE images are as diverse as they are fascinating. A youth with deep, hooded eyes staring blankly from beneath a hat crafted from a newspaper... the drama of the Cuillins in Skye rising majestically under a dazzling blue sky... the distinctive visage of writer and artist John Byrne, cigarette dangling nonchalantly from his lips.

• Skye by Derek Sanderson

They sit alongside cartoon sketches in heavy black ink done in a flash of comic inspiration and astonishingly detailed water colours, brush stroke upon brush stroke laboriously applied to create a picturesque scene of nature at her most serene. There are mesmerising faces, provocative sketches, warm scenes of children at play.

But what is remarkable about each of the 160 plus pieces that make up one of the most unusual art exhibitions and sales of the year, is that each has been carefully created on a postcard measuring a mere six inches by four inches.

This is just a flavour of dozens of works produced by more than 100 prominent artists from across the country - among them Tutti Frutti creator John Byrne and Glasgow-based cartoonist David Shrigley, acclaimed Edinburgh artists Kate Downey and Stephen Mangan - who each submitted postcard-sized original artworks to help raise funds for a city charity's work with homeless and disadvantaged young people.

The Rock Trust, which provides accommodation and support for troubled youngsters across the city, had asked artists to create a unique postcard work for an exhibition which will open at the Traverse Theatre later this month.

Visitors can submit "silent" bids, meaning someone could end up owning a mini artwork created by a leading name in the UK art world for a fraction of what they might typically expect to pay.

It's hoped the event will boost the charity's funds by as much as 15,000.

Organiser Tom Byrom says he has been overwhelmed by the response from some of the major names in British art. "We're delighted. To get pieces of art from the likes of John Byrne and David Shrigley is wonderful - these are big names who are very much in demand.

"Some of the works we've received are phenomenal," he adds. "You look at a postcard and think it's not going to take much time or effort to put something on it, but clearly a lot of artists have spent a great deal of time on their work. Perhaps it's been more challenging and time consuming for them to fill such a small space."

The Rock Trust was set up in 1991 to provide support and accommodation to homeless and socially excluded youths. Alongside providing accommodation and running personal development courses for around 150 young people a year, its Step Up project provides a chance to learn skills through volunteering in the community.

For one-time homeless teenager Leigh McKay of Gilmerton, the Rock Trust support means she is now looking forward to moving into her own flat in Haddington.

"If it hadn't been for my support worker and the charity, I'd just be another junkie on the street," says the 19-year-old.

Family quarrels meant she quit home at 16 to live in a series of hostels. Through The Rock Trust she now attends cookery and sports groups and does community voluntary work.

The postcards will go on show at the Traverse Theatre Bar Cafe from March 28 until May 8 when they will be distributed to the highest bidders.

Artist David Shrigley - who has submitted a quirky and eye catching cartoon of a streaker - says: "The work that The Rock Trust does is invaluable and I am very happy to be able to support them."

• For more details go to www.rocktrust.org