Congratulations to Maz, whose art has been used by the beauty company Lush for one of its products.
Her art is on the box for a Mother’s Day gift.
Maz’s art has been part of the shop’s Mother’s Day campaign and can be seen in adverts on shop windows across the UK.
Maz lives near Queen’s Park and gets some support from LDN London.
“I did a ladybird painting at Art Box London and it got selected at a shop called Lush. They put it on a box for Mother’s Day. Now it’s in all the Lush shops for Mother’s Day.
Madeline, who runs Art Box, told me about it over the phone and I was gobsmacked.
It’s going to be everywhere in shops across the UK and the world. It has my name on it, Marianna Meritt, look out for it. It says Happy Mother’s Day and at the back it has my name on it.
It comes with bath bombs and different fragrances.
I thought to do a nature painting because I love ladybirds.
I actually was shocked that it was selected. I was like, ‘wow’, speechless. I never had that experience before, with my disabilities.
I told my support team. I told my family and friends. They gave me positive feedback that they’re proud of me.”
Madeline, the founder of Art Box, which is an art studio for people with learning disabilities, said: “As an organisation we are super proud of Maz. Not only does she bring joy each week into the studio but she is now spreading that joy through her artwork across the country.”
“When I start painting I can’t stop. It’s in me – in my veins.
When I grew up I wanted to be like my half sister Tamsin, she’s an artist as well. My grandad is an artist too.
I make art at home. I do Buddhism art. And Andy Warhol is my inspiration.
I want to go to art college to do an art foundation. And then after that see whether I can get training to be a disability art facilitator, so that I can run workshops and groups.”
With the money she received for her art, Maz would love to start a disability art group, she says.
You can see more of Maz’s art here: www.artboxlondon.org/maz
