An approximately four-metre tall painting of Scafell Crag by artist Julian Cooper is up for auction.

The piece is being sold to raise funds for The Mountain Heritage Trust, which originally commissioned it in 2000.

The oil on canvas mountain scene has hung in the atrium of Rheged Discovery Centre, near Penrith, since then-prime minister Tony Blair unveiled it at the centre’s opening in 2001.

The artwork also features Pikes Crag in the foreground, along with figures representing some of Cooper's friends and family, who posed for the painting.

Mr Cooper's niece, Rebecca Heaton Cooper, is shown scrambling up the gully in the foreground.

The piece is expected to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000, with all proceeds going to support the work of The Mountain Heritage Trust, which is based in Threlkeld.

Of his mountainous subject matter, Mr Cooper is reported by Mitchells, the auctioneers that will manage the painting's sale, to have said 'in the past': "You’re handling raw material ... dealing with a vertical surface.

"A vertical crag is just like a huge abstract painting, processed by time."

David Johnston-Smith, the Trust’s collections manager, said of the upcoming sale: "The Mountain Heritage Trust is excited by the forthcoming sale of Julian Cooper’s wonderful Scafell Crag, which many may remember hanging at Rheged during the time of the National Mountaineering Exhibition.

"With the painting finding a new owner, the Trust will be able to further their important aims of preserving, conserving, and cataloguing their outstanding collection of archives and objects related to British mountaineering and climbing that are held at its accommodation in the Blencathra Field Studies Centre in Threlkeld."

A painting of Birkness Combe, by Cumbrian rock climber Bill Peascod, will also be on sale at the same auction, with proceeds to go to the Trust.

The artwork, originally donated to the British Mountaineering Council, is expected to raise between £5,000 and £8,000.

Both paintings will be auctioned on the second day of Mitchells' three-day Antiques & Fine Art Sale, which will take place from Wednesday, November 27 to Friday, November 29.

A pencil drawing by LS Lowry, depicting Maryport, will also be on sale - and is estimated to fetch £25,000 to £35,000.

Lots can be viewed in the saleroom on Sunday, November 24 from 11am to 3pm, on Monday, November 25 from 10am to 5pm, and on Tuesday, November 26, also from 10am to 5pm.

A fully illustrated catalogue can be viewed online at www.the-saleroom.com/mitchells from two weeks prior to the sale.

Buyers can also arrange to bid by telephone or leave commission bids in advance.

For further information, please contact James Moore on 01900 827800.