THE writing really is on the wall at an art gallery whose future was uncertain just two months ago.

People were invited to drop in at Billingham Art Gallery on Saturday, to take part in an event to cover an entire wall with a large collaborative piece of artwork.

The free Big Draw event, which attracted people of all ages, including plenty of children, took place under the guidance of surrealist artist Chiu Kwong Man.

Kate Mahaffy, exhibition co-ordinator for Stockton Borough Council, said: "Collaborative drawing is a great way to fire your imagination by bouncing, and feeding, off other people's input.''

Stockton Borough Council has been looking to find other uses for the gallery and the Green Dragon Museum, in Stockton. There are exhibitions booked at the gallery until 2008.