A showcase of the best in local artistic talent is being organised by a Dundee teenager to raise money for the tsunami appeal and an orphanage in China, where she will spend several months working later this year.

Gillian Ferguson (18) is gearing up for Cento, an evening of poetry, dance, art, music and a fashion show, which will be held in the Hilton Hotel in Dundee on Saturday night.

The event will see one of six promising young fashion designers crowned Designer of the Year, while a poetry book in aid of the tsunami victims will be officially launched.

Gillian, who is in her gap year after leaving Lawside Academy in June last year, will head for Phuket in Thailand in April where she will spend a month helping with the clear-up operation.

She will then travel to Beijing, where she will be based at the Langfang Orphanage and will help with the daily care and teaching of the children and run an art camp.

Gillian, chairwoman of youth arts charity KenART, said a lot of the orphans are in need of medical help as they suffer from conditions such as spina bifida or cleft palate.

The proceeds from the Cento event will be split between the orphanage, which will enable some of them to be treated for their conditions, and the Hilton Hotel’s appeal for disaster relief.

She will be running an art camp at the orphanage and encouraging the children to use artwork to express themselves, which could be used to raise more money for their cause.

“I had always wanted to go and do something like this and my aunt, who lives in America, had been to the orphanage, so it all happened from there.

“The orphanage I’m going to has been recognised as being a model of good practice for orphanages. People move there, mainly from America, and the orphans live with them in their houses. The children are really joining their families.

“Children don’t have money but they can contribute and help by using their creative talents.

“It’s all about the idea that young people’s creativity means they still have something to offer and their artwork, fashion designs, music, dancing and poetry can help raise money for these orphans and the people affected by the tsunami.

“Cento means patchwork in Latin and the whole idea of the event is lots of things coming together for one cause.

“There is a positive message there as well. It’s not just all about raising money.”

Gillian will have little time to recover from her four-month trip as a week after returning home she is off to St Andrews University to begin studying for a degree in languages and English.

Tickets for the Hilton are available at the door or by contacting 01382 220330.