Mhairi is an artist working in Project Ability’s ReConnect studios.
“After being fairly creative all my life, when the symptoms of my condition started to take hold, I pulled away from it. However, during one of my stays in physical rehabilitation, art therapy was available and so my interest was reignited!
This initially was difficult as my ability and style had completely changed since my myoclonic jerks didn’t make it easy. It did take some time to become use to this change but I truly do enjoy my relationship to art much more now. It is less focused on perfection and more related to what is fun and makes me happy!
On that note, I tend not to use standard paint brushes or normal painting tools. This is due to the fact that I am now unable to hold the brushes and use them properly. Therefore I look for different uses of the everyday object. My main art supplier is pound stores, with car scrapers, hairbrushes, loofahs, sponges and other utensils.
I use these to create brightly coloured backgrounds and then build from there. The idea behind my foreground imagery is to normalise seeing ability aids in art and those that utilise them!
However, before I start a canvas with acrylic paint, I will test out colours by creating prints using my gel plate.”
Recent notable exhibitions include:
2024 The ReConnect Painting Show at Platform
2024 The ReConnect Painting Show at CASS Arts
