ARTISTS are working with Bolton school pupils this week to help them discover the benefits of drawing.

The Big Draw is a national initiative to teach people of all ages that drawing can aid observation, communication and invention, and, above all, give pleasure.

Visual artists have devised a number of drawing projects in a variety of interesting venues across the Bolton area.

Bowness Primary School will be drawing at Smithills Hall and St Bernard's RC Primary School will be drawing at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, while St Columba Primary and Harper Green High School will be spending time at Hall i'th' Wood Museum.

Artists will lead drawing sessions in each of the venues, using an exciting range of textured papers and everyday and unusual materials to explore different making techniques and try out new and interesting approaches.

Initial sketches will be developed further into large-scale drawings back at school next week.

All the finished work will be on exhibition to the public at Hall i'th' Wood Museum, Bolton and Bolton Museums, Art Gallery and Aquarium.