AN artist who has become a penpal of a convicted murderer on Death Row in Texas, has found him an inspiration for her art.

Dawn Cunliffe, who recently gained a Visual Arts degree from Bolton Institute, was so moved by the plight of 23-year-old Yokoman Hearn that she created a work featuring tear-shaped glass.

Hearn is facing the death penalty since being convicted in 1998 of murdering Frank Menziere, allegedly for his car, but has always maintained his innocence.

Dawn, aged 22, began writing to him after seeing an advert in the Big Issue asking for penpals for Death Row prisoners.

She says Hearn -- known as Yogi -- is now a committed Christian with amazing faith.

"He's always so encouraging and strong about things. When I hear him talk about his circumstances it really puts things in perspective," she said.

Thousands of people have seen her installation Glass and Light, which consists of 42 small pieces of glass put in tear-shaped layers in a spiral and illuminated from below, at the Soul Survivor Christian music and arts festival in Gloucestershire over the last two weeks.

Miss Cunliffe, of Fallowfield Way, Atherton, said: "The feedback I had was that people thought it was very tranquil and spiritual."

Dawn now has the chance to have work featured at an exhibition in London next week as part of the Survivor In The City event, an offshoot of Soul Survivor.

She hopes to continue her artistic pursuits in one shape or other.

"I will definitely carry on with it myself but for now I have to earn some money!" she said.