Artful way to raise cash

A PAINTING featured in the First Minister's official Christmas card and going under the hammer next month is expected to fetch up to £6000.

The Gerard Burns canvas entitled New Journey will be auctioned at Lyon and Turnbull in Edinburgh next Wednesday, with the proceeds being donated to charity.

The artwork, donated by Burns, features his niece Hannah McQuillan carrying a Saltire looking across a wintry landscape.

Four charities - CLIC Sargent, Glasgow the Caring City, J-A-C-K (Joining Against Cancer In Kids) Foundation and Mary's Meals - will benefit from the cash.

The charities have also each received six signed limited-edition prints of A New Journey, to raise further funds.