LANCASTER City Council has bought a work of art from local Royal Academy trained artist Chris Robinson.

The picture is a superb pencil drawing of Nobel Peace Prize Winner and leader of Burma's Democracy Movement, Aung San Suu Kyi.

The council's delve into the art world follows the hugely successful 'Looking for Burma' exhibition which took place in Lancaster during August and September. The council sponsored exhibition enabled Chris to show his work which was inspired by his visits to Burma.

His paintings capture the essence of Burma, its people and their diverse culture as well as highlighting the oppressive regime which presently governs the country.

Chris has been very busy since the exhibition and has just returned from London this week where he attended the Royal Institute's famous Faraday lecture. In addition, Chris is currently preparing for a month long trip to Madagascar where he is to work with a team of ecologists from the University of Central Lancashire.

The exhibition itself is now on the move and is proving to be very popular. It recently attracted visitors to Lancaster University and, as a direct result of interest shown in the exhibition, the University's Religious Studies Department is now hoping to secure external funding to allow 10 Burmese students to study in Lancaster next year.

Councillor Stanley Henig said: "Chris has had the whole support of the City Council and we are extremely pleased that the exhibition has been such a great success. Chris's work provides a unique insight into a different way of life and we are very proud that we have been able to purchase one of his lovely drawings."

The exhibition's next stop is St Hughes College in Oxford and plans are afoot to take it further afield, perhaps even to Lancaster's twin towns.

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