­A MARY?TAVY woman has harnessed the power of art to help children in a Peruvian orphanage.

Laure Bury spent a month giving art workshops to children at an orphanage in Oropesa near Cusco and was rewarded with a wonderful response.

Laure, who recently completed a course in art therapy and understanding the healing benefits of art, travelled to Peru with her 12-year-old son Alex.

The orphanage, which Tom Jolly from Gunnislake helped set up, houses 16 children, supporting them through their education and providing them with food and security.

There are literally tens of millions of street children around the world having to fend for themselves, said Laure, so the children at Azul Wasi orphanage were some of the lucky ones.

She said: 'When I arrived there in July to give my art workshops, the children had no art materials there at all.

'When I offered my optional art workshops I did not expect the overwhelming desire to participate. I had never known anyone so hungry for art before, impatient through my demonstration and eager to get their hands onto the art materials and get started.

'They created some beautiful work and it was very rewarding to witness their sense of pride and accomplishment.'

Laure said that children ranged from aged 6 to 17, and as there was only limited space, she had to work in several sittings.

'Each child experimented with brushes, palette knives, collage and created a beautiful painting full of colour, texture and rich in symbolism,' she said.

'I had brought canvases, acrylic paints, palette knives and brushes out with me to Peru. A neighbour of mine had also donated some pencils.

'I couldn't help thinking how many people I knew that would have discarded crayons, paints, brushes or notepads that children had grown out of, unwanted and taking up space on a shelf or in cupboards. These forgotten items would be treasured by a child at Azul Wasi.'

Laure is asking anyone who would like to donate any art materials for the children of Azul Wasi to contact her on 01822 810576 or at [email protected]">[email protected]

She expressed thanks to everyone who supported her art sale and helped to fund her volunteering trip to Peru.