AN UNEMPLOYED father-of-two drew on his talents to brighten up his daughter's nursery school library - and now hopes it will open up a whole new chapter in his life.

Michael McLaren had studied art and design in college and while he was out of work decided to put his skill to good use.

He asked if there was any way he could help at the nursery at Oxford Grove Primary School.

When his young daughter, Abigail, four, took in a picture of Winnie the Pooh which Michael had drawn for her, her teacher, Kim Thexton, knew just what to ask for. She explained: "Our library had just been refurbished and we asked if he could draw us pictures for it."

Michael asked to borrow some of the children's books to copy from, and the end result was four pictures in pastel and one in watercolour.

The school had them framed and they are currently proudly hanging in the library.

Kim said: "They look beautiful. We are delighted with them."

Michael, whose other daughter, Stephanie, five, attends the primary school, now hopes to start a new career in art. He said: "I am not professional but I do want to get started. I wouldn't mind putting on exhibitions and am applying for a stand at the annual art exhibition on Newport Street in the summer.

"The pictures for the children took about eight or nine days to complete. Although I have drawn things for friends before, I have never done this sort of thing, and was pleased with the result.

"I draw in my spare time, and try my hand at almost anything."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.