Local artist painting his way to Athens
Local Pukekohe disabled artist Grant Sharman will travel to Athens in August as coach of the wheelchair rugby team, where he will also present landscape paintings as thank you gifts to those who have supported the New Zealand Paralympics team.

Grant, who paints with a brush held in his mouth and is a Member of the Mouth & Foot Painting Artists (MFPA), is excited about his trip to Athens, which will be his first to Greece and will also include some sporting matches.

Grant began painting after an injury in a school rugby match left him a tetraplegic, and he has recently had his work included as part of the mid-year range of cards, gifts tags, wrapping paper and bookmarks from the MFPA.

Grant’s painting of “The Earnslaw”, a well known passenger cruise ship, features in the new card range alongside the work of MFPA members from around the world.

“I enjoy painting everything but particularly like the challenge of painting ships,” said Grant who has previously enjoyed a trip on the Earnshaw, and painted this particular ship from a photograph that appeared in The New Zealand Herald.

After returning from Athens, Grant is looking forward to painting some more New Zealand landscapes and sourcing inspiration from the many gardens near his home.

The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists is a self-help organisation which gives disabled people the opportunity to fulfil their creative ambitions while still maintaining financial independence.

It handles the marketing and selling of a range of products such cards, calendars, wrapping paper, jigsaw puzzles and books which all feature the work of its members.

MFPA is a self-help organisation which gives disabled people the opportunity to fulfil their creative ambitions while still maintaining financial independence, by selectively selling their highly regarded works of art.

MFPA was founded in 1956 by a group of mainly Swiss, French, British and German artists. It was founded in 1961 in New Zealand and now has a membership of over 700 disabled artists in more than 70 countries throughout the world.

To become a Student Member an artist must qualify by painting using a brush held in either their mouth or foot, having lost the use of their hands through an illness or accident. Once an artist becomes a Full Member or Associate they are guaranteed a salary for life, even if they are unable to continue painting.

For further information on the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists or to place an order please contact MFPA in Auckland on 9827 6746.

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Released for the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Pty Ltd by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations. For further information please contact Marie Tritsaris or Kristen Mackie on (612) 9413 4244