Celia scoops creative award

Celia Houghton, arts development officer at Lichfield District Council, has recently being awarded her third Drawing Inspiration Award.

And it follows a successful campaign to get people across the district drawing as part of Big Draw 2006.

Ms Houghton received a highly commended award at a ceremony hosted by the Campaign for Drawing at the British Museum. And along with the commemorative award, which was created by top illustrator and campaign patron Quentin Blake, Ms Houghton also received £50.

The awards recognise the people who have come up with imaginative ways of engaging their audience in creative pastimes.

And the district council's contribution to Big Draw was a packed programme of fun, arty events throughout the city, plus a series of school art workshops.

The Big Draw month included professional artists creating free portraits and caricatures in the city centre. A drawing on Perspex workshop to create stained glass window effects in Lichfield Cathedral and unusual ways of drawing activity were also alll featured.

Ms Houghton said: "I am thrilled to have been recognised for my contribution to the Big Draw for a third time.

"I believe drawing activities are a great way for people to rediscover their creative side, which is too often forgotten." An exhibition to celebrate all the hard work and activities which have taken place across the district as part of Big Draw will be staged at the Garrick Theatre later this year.