FOREST children's book author Shoo Rayner is appealing for fans to back him in a bid to win 20,000 Euros towards developing his online drawing school.

"I've managed to get to the last 80 of the British contingent in the Youtube Nextup Europe Competition. There will be eight British winners, so I stand quite a good chance – with your help!" says Shoo.

"You may or may not know that I've been building my Youtube Drawing School for  a year and a half now. I've just passed one million views of my videos.

"I'm now a Google partner, which allows me to enter for the prize of 20,000 Euros to spend developing my drawing school, plus an intensive training and mentoring week and ongoing support from Youtube.

He wants people to visit his channel on youtube – http://www.youtube.com/shooraynerdrawing –">http://www.youtube.com/shooraynerdrawing –; where a video will begin playing automatically.

"This will explain and give instructions on how to vote," he says.

"I need as many votes as possible by July 9, so your votes are most welcome. If you could get your family, workmates, schools, library borrowers and anyone else you know to help too that would be fantastic!

"I've made a download sheet available at http://