Our talented Christmas card artist

Meet our Christmas card Artist

Ann has been a Helping Hands customer since July, and is busy proving that her Multiple Sclerosis doesn’t hold her back from pursuing her life as an artist.

You might recognise Ann from the back of our beautiful Christmas cards – can you believe she painted that wonderful snowy landscape with her mouth? In 2009, Ann attended a course run by the Mouth and Foot Painters Association that taught her the basics of the technique, and since then, her passion has only grown.  “I produce quite a lot of paintings!” she shares. “It’s normally around twelve per year. All my designs come from photographs I’ve taken – I’m a proud member of the Disabled Photographer’s Society, and my photo of the Cambrians (used for the design on the Christmas card) won third prize in a competition.”

Ann has been with Liz, her Helping Hands personal carer, for several months now. “We get on very well,” says Ann. “We get up to all sorts. We’ve just been busy arranging a Christmas Dinner with the MS Society. I’m looking forward to it – there’ll be old friends and hopefully new ones, too.” Liz has also been supporting Ann with her new hobby: researching her family history. She has discovered she’s related to some rather important historical figures. “I’d always hoped I’d be related to a pirate,” jokes Ann, “but I suppose an Admiral will do!” 

Ann and Liz are a wonderful example of the benefits our Live-in partnerships can offer – and she’s had a brilliant experience with the rest of our team, too. “Wendy, my manager, is really lovely,” she praises. “In fact, everyone I’ve talked to has been very sweet. Helping Hands has given me a very good experience during a very difficult time in my life.”

No doubt the New Year holds even more exciting achievements for Ann.