HUGE neon-style artworks based on drawings by convicted criminals are to be erected in the shadow of a cathedral.

Nine Men Drawing, the latest creation of internationally-renowned artist Ron Haselden, will appear on structures up to two metres high by four metres wide at Durham Cathedral, based on the pencil sketches of inmates at the city’s prison.

Mr Haselden attended a prison art class, encouraging nine inmates to draw pictures relating to their lives and experiences.

In two hours, they produced 50 images.

Ten of these are to be increased in size, interpreted through steel frames and “light lines” and erected in the Monks Garden, within the grounds of the cathedral.

It will form part of the light spectacular Lumiere, which comes to Durham City between November 12 and 15.

Speaking to The Northern Echo from his home in France, Mr Haselden, 65, said: “I didn’t know what to expect from them and they didn’t know what to expect from me.

“I found their drawings really fascinating and I decided to make a work from each of them.

“They express some intensive personal feelings of these chaps. It’s a way of making them visible.

“What interests me is that the ideas of people who wouldn’t think of themselves as artists are given value and are represented in a public space. It’s about making people feel confident about themselves.

It’s a celebration, in a very straightforward way, of the work of others.”

Nicky Webb, director of Lumiere organisers Artichoke, said: “Ron Haselden is a very major artist. We wanted to commission him to do something for Durham.

“We try to cross boundaries between parts of society. We noticed that the prison building is right in the middle of Durham, which is interesting because they’re mostly on the edge of town.

“It occurred to us it would be interesting for Ron to work with prisoners. These are not usually people who would get to work with someone like him. This is a very quiet location and we’ve got drawings by people not usually involved in society.”

Lumiere will also see parts of Durham lit up with artwork, including huge portraits of North-East faces projected onto buildings in the Market Place.

It is hoped Lumiere will boost Durham’s bid to be named UK City of Culture 2013.