Artist hopes to draw in support with Facebook competition

An English artist and businessman is looking to use Facebook to "attract more people into art".

Colin Taylor, from Warrington, Cheshire, is giving every pensioner who 'friends' him on the popular social media website the chance to win a picture worth more than 1,000.

The painting being given away is of well-known Lake District beauty spot Coniston Water, and Colin told the Warrington Guardian that it is inspired by an 18^th century guidebook to 'the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire' the area known more commonly today as England's Lake District.

"Using Facebook in this way is an effort to broaden awareness," said Colin, who also runs a climbing and adventure centre in Warrington.

Many artists now use Facebook to promote themselves and their work, as well as setting up websites which benefit greatly from professional search engine optimisation to help them achieve higher Google rankings, and so gain more business.

The picture is on show at an exhibition in Didsbury, Manchester until July 2, alongside other pieces created by Colin on his travels to the likes of China, South America and Canada. The draw to win the picture will take place after the exhibition closes.

Steven Cox

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