Picasso print in raffle

Mr Stalham said: "I had the chance to turn my life around and I think it's important that other people should have the same chances I did.

"When you go into prison, it's easy to get into a downward spiral, but what Art Saves Lives does is offers the training and the platform for people who have been in prison to be able to get into art and show their art to other people.

"And most people are very receptive of the idea.

"I went round asking businesses to donate items for the raffle and there was such a good response. The Picasso was a real surprise."

The print, signed and valued at £5,000 was donated to Art Saves Lives by the Globe Gallery in Church Street, Weybridge, and there is also a rare photograph of Kate Moss.

The art will be on display at the gallery in Stoke Newington Library, London, alongside the three critically acclaimed plays that are being performed.

Mr Stalham added: "The plays are being put on to get people interested in what we are doing and we will also have music by Billy Bragg.

"We will be selling raffle tickets on these two days, and hopefully we will generate a lot of interest and money, enough to be able to put on an exhibition in February.

"Basically, somebody could be getting a real bargain, by getting a Picasso print for the price of a raffle ticket."

The raffle will be drawn in February at Mr Stalham's next exhibition of work by him and other ex-convicts.

Entry to the plays and exhibition this month is free, and the shows start at 6pm.

For more information, email one of Mr Stalham's colleagues at tilly.brooke@hotmail.com or catflannery@gmail.com.