A series of Peter Howson sketches are to go on sale to fund the restoration of an historic Glasgow church. 

The images depict the impact of the Irish Famine. Funds raised will contribute to the upkeep of St Mary's Parish in the Calton area of the city and a place of refuge for many of the victims at the time.

Mr Howson was commissioned by the Archdiocese of Glasgow to capture the human tragedy of famine. His works depict not only those who fled Ireland during the 1840s but also those caught up in famines of today.

He said: "You know it's about the Irish famine but it's also about the whole human condition. The main point about the exhibition is to educate people - school children and grown ups - as to what the Irish famine was."

A million people died in the Irish famine. Of the thousands who came to Scotland, many of the migrants moved to Bridgeton and the Calton.

St Mary's was built in the Calton to cater for the needs of an Irish community who were impoverished and in great pain. In the last five years members of the church have spent £900,000 on roof repairs and removing dry rot.

Maintaining a Grade A-listed building is a bit like painting the Forth Road bridge. It's never ending. 

The money raised from Mr Howson's works will go towards the exterior of the building, making it wind and water-tight for another 150 years.