Awareness through art in Paddington

Published On: 18 April 2019Categories: News

Paddington artist Hayley Marrs draws on deeply personal experiences to inspire her craft.

Her passion for art was sparked by a photography course taken through TAFE in 2014, and she has since tried her hand at a variety of art forms.

“From photography I moved into graphic design and discovered that I really enjoyed the drawing side of art, rather than the digital.”

“I discovered a love for print making and drawing, and even tried a few lessons of life drawing.”

“That was pretty awkward and confronting, but you have to do it. It’s all part of the experience.”

Hayley said her journey with art has given her the freedom to express herself.

“Through drawing I developed a different way of thinking. I learnt to draw what I was thinking and feeling, stuff I couldn’t put into words.”

Hayley draws from passion and experience, her art serves an important purpose.

Hayley has neurofibromatosis type 1, a multi-system disorder caused by the mutation of a gene on chromosome 17. Neurofibromatosis causes tumours along the nervous system which can grow anywhere on the body.

Hayley’s art is designed to raise awareness of the condition in the mainstream community.

“I want to focus on teaching mainstream people to understand who I am. Looking at the art and getting a real feeling of who I am.”

“I am more than what you see.”

In 2018, Hayley was commissioned to provide artworks for resources created by the Queensland Disability Advocacy Inc., covering the themes of violence against people with disability and restrictive practices.

She is currently working on an extended series of artworks entitled, “The Monster in Me.”

“The Monster in Me doesn’t mean that I am a monster, it’s about how other people perceive me. The theme was supposed to help teach older children about NF, their eyes can be like predators sometimes out in public.”

With the arrival of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Brisbane in 2018, Hayley applied for access to the scheme and was successful.

She is supported on her NDIS journey by Carers Queensland’s Local Area Coordination Partner in the Community Program for the Brisbane region.

Hayley displayed a range of her work at the official launch of Carers Queensland’s Brisbane South Local Area Coordination Office in Eight Mile Plains on April 9th.

For more information on Hayley’s art or to commission pieces for your home or business, please visit www.facebook.com/primroseimage

For information about the NDIS in Brisbane, call Carers Queensland’s Brisbane South Local Area Coordination Office on (07) 3719 9600, email brisbanesouthlac@carersqld.com.au or visit www.ndis.gov.au.