First Minister’s Christmas cards raise £170,000 for charity

The First Minister commissioned the Katie Morag creator, Mairi Hedderwick, to create the artwork for last year’s Christmas card and the original artwork sold at auction today.

The proceeds will be divided between Children 1st, Enable Scotland, Books Abroad and the Scottish Refugee Council.

The original artwork sold today for £1,000 adding to the cumulative total of £170,000 raised through sales of the original paintings and limited edition prints.
Speaking after the auction, the First Minister, the Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon, said: “I was delighted that Mairi Hedderwick was able to create such a wonderful illustration for last year’s Christmas card.

“Katie Morag’s adventures accompanied by Mairi’s beautiful illustrations are adored by both children and adults right across the world.”

“Christmas is a time for spending time with those we love, but it is also a time for thinking about those less fortunate than ourselves.

Previous artists have included John Lowrie Morrison, Gerard Burns, Jack Vettriano, Alasdair Gray, Elizabeth Blackadder, Peter Howson and Phyllis Dodd.