Cara Flowers

So Daisy stands for Disability Arts in Surrey. We're in the Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill on the ground floor in a long corridor and the walls are plastered on both sides with just under 150 self-portraits made by artists with disabilities that are based in Surrey.

So Daisy stands for Disability Arts in Surrey. We're in the Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill on the ground floor in a long corridor and the walls are plastered on both sides with just under 150 self-portraits made by artists with disabilities that are based in Surrey.

Yeah, well, there's a real variety, and I mean, you can spend a long time in here. Because of the nature of these artworks, the brief was to do a self-portrait. The exhibition's called Layers, so we asked the artists to explore the layers of their personality and their interest, and then to recreate that on a canvas, and then to build that canvas up with different layers.

Yeah, well, there's a real variety, and I mean, you can spend a long time in here. Because of the nature of these artworks, the brief was to do a self-portrait. The exhibition's called Layers, so we asked the artists to explore the layers of their personality and their interest, and then to recreate that on a canvas, and then to build that canvas up with different layers.

Maybe that's textures, collage. So there's a real variety in what everyone's come up with, and it's an insight into who they are and how they want other people to see them, and I think that's really... expressed in so many different ways with all these different artworks.

Maybe that's textures, collage. So there's a real variety in what everyone's come up with, and it's an insight into who they are and how they want other people to see them, and I think that's really... expressed in so many different ways with all these different artworks.

Yeah, incredibly creative. There's quite a few glasses that have been stuck into the canvas on people's faces. But I also like the ones that aren't literal. There's quite a lot of ones that aren't even faces. There's one over here which is a grid of different colours. She's built up those grids over multiple layers. That's kind of an interesting insight into how she sees herself perhaps.

Yeah, incredibly creative. There's quite a few glasses that have been stuck into the canvas on people's faces. But I also like the ones that aren't literal. There's quite a lot of ones that aren't even faces. There's one over here which is a grid of different colours. She's built up those grids over multiple layers. That's kind of an interesting insight into how she sees herself perhaps.

So there's the very literal self-portraits, a classic head and shoulders painting. Then there's this one here where you're asked to lift a flap. It's called Hidden Artist.

So there's the very literal self-portraits, a classic head and shoulders painting. Then there's this one here where you're asked to lift a flap. It's called Hidden Artist.

Yeah, so there's some interactive ones. And then there's a picture of a rose. There's some poetry. Some people have used words. There's one up there, and they really like football. They've created a 3D football in the canvas and put their face on it. There's someone who's put their head inside a burger. I saw the burger one, yes. There's quite a lot of animal and food themes, I've noticed.

Yeah, so there's some interactive ones. And then there's a picture of a rose. There's some poetry. Some people have used words. There's one up there, and they really like football. They've created a 3D football in the canvas and put their face on it. There's someone who's put their head inside a burger. I saw the burger one, yes. There's quite a lot of animal and food themes, I've noticed.

Yeah, well, it's to show these people beyond their disability, to kind of allow them to express themselves and to show you how they want to be seen.

Yeah, well, it's to show these people beyond their disability, to kind of allow them to express themselves and to show you how they want to be seen.

So we work with 22 different disability arts organisations across Surrey. We've got mental health charities. Primarily, we work with charities that work with people with learning disabilities. But, yeah, anyone that identifies as disabled and attends these member organisations, they're welcome to get involved with Daisy. What does it...

So we work with 22 different disability arts organisations across Surrey. We've got mental health charities. Primarily, we work with charities that work with people with learning disabilities. But, yeah, anyone that identifies as disabled and attends these member organisations, they're welcome to get involved with Daisy. What does it...

Often, if you have a disability, you face a lot of barriers in your life and a lot of frustration. So it's a way of expressing yourself, having a purpose. You know, a lot of these organisations, they offer day services and residential services. So we have organisations that are primarily arts-based, but also ones that offer cooking, that offer lots of other life skills.

Often, if you have a disability, you face a lot of barriers in your life and a lot of frustration. So it's a way of expressing yourself, having a purpose. You know, a lot of these organisations, they offer day services and residential services. So we have organisations that are primarily arts-based, but also ones that offer cooking, that offer lots of other life skills.

It helps everyone just become part of society and they contribute and make friends and be part of their own community. It's really great for wellbeing. If you're interested in Daisy, daisyfest.co.uk.

It helps everyone just become part of society and they contribute and make friends and be part of their own community. It's really great for wellbeing. If you're interested in Daisy, daisyfest.co.uk.