AN original painting entitled 'Devon Life Tractor' by Nigel Cooke and donated by Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery will be the fantastic first prize in the Lions Club of Tavistock's annual Christmas draw, which this year is raising money for the soon to be re-opened Tavistock Youth Café.

According to Rik Hawkins of the gallery, Nigel Cooke is one of the country's most up-and coming artists. Rik said that Nigel felt privileged to be involved with such a great cause.

Nigel sold his first painting at the tender age of 14, starting his career in caricature and has since evolved into energised cityscape paintings amongst other images.

Rik said that he had chosen this particular painting, which would currently retail for £560, for its humour as well as its art merits and potential investment.

Steve Grummitt, Lions president, said that he was delighted with the continued and most generous support of Nina, Rik and Martin Hawkins from Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery and that the club had chosen the youth café as it was so deserving of community support for the youth within the town.

He also expressed thanks to Simon Renshaw of Dukes Coffee House for sponsoring the printing of the tickets and the management of the Bedford Hotel and Newells Travel of Tavistock for providing the second and third prizes respectively.

Mandy Ewings, chairman of the Tavistock Youth Café, said that she was very grateful to the Lions for their support.

'This project has been really hard work to get this far and we need more funding and offers of help from the generous and brilliant residents of Tavistock to equip and staff it,' said Mandy.

'However, we are now officially the tenants of Unit 6 in Pixon Court, grants are beginning to materialise, and we are confident that we can get the Youth Café open again early in the New Year.

'We know how much young people in Tavistock need a facility like this!'

Tickets for the Christmas draw are available from members of the Lions Club who will be selling them at the Farmers' Market in Bedford Square on Saturday, November 22, in the pannier market on Dickensian Evening as well as from the Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery in Plymouth Road Retail Park (behind the old Focus store) and the Tavistock Art Gallery in Duke Street. The draw will take place on Monday, December 8 in the Tavy Club at 7.30pm to which all are welcome.