When the Camberley day service held its Open Day last year, showcasing the students’ activities and achievements, amongst the visitors were Parity Trustee Linda Anderson and past staff member and long-term supporter Pat Nield. Each expressed a particular fondness of an art exhibit. Pat loved all the different colours and shapes in a painting completed by a number of students as a group project. Linda loved how student Stephen had independently used several colours to paint a giraffe ornament.
“I was so bowled over by how it had been decorated,” said Linda of Stephen’s giraffe. “It’s a wonderful demonstration of his skill as an artist.”
The student painting stunned Pat. “It was up against a window so the light was shining through, it was just glowing in the sunshine.”
As a thank you for all they’ve done for Parity, the Camberley students decided to gift the pieces to Linda and Pat. Both were welcomed to the Camberley service a few weeks later to be presented with their artwork.
“Stephen wanted to make sure that I was actually given the art as a gift and that I wasn’t buying it. I was really touched,” said Linda.
On the back of Pat’s painting are the names of the people who worked on it, including students Ian and Richard who were there to present Pat with the work. “It’s a number of people I knew,” Pat said. “I’m going to use it as the base for the colours that I decorate in at home. I’m very excited about it being the standout piece in the room.”
Learn more about student art: Individual Art & Media Archives – Parity for Disability
