ADULTS with learning disabilities have had their artwork displayed in a gallery at Five Rivers Leisure Centre.

The project, which was chosen by customers at the Meadows day service, started in May 2022 and took six months to be completed.

Four adults who access the service undertook the artistic challenge and their efforts were rewarded with a magnificent gallery display inside the centre.

Dez Lake, 55, has been a support worker at the Meadows for three years and oversaw the weekly art sessions. He said: "I'm really proud of them. It was nice that people believed in the project and their families have been absolutely blown away.

"It was a good project to do after Covid. They were really struggling with the isolation and it focused their minds away from that."

Salisbury Journal: Carol Johnson and Dez Lake ran the activity sessions.Carol Johnson and Dez Lake ran the activity sessions. (Image: Meadows Day Service)

Andrew Hammond's favourite show is Last of the Summer Wine and he decided to create a mosaic of his favourite character, Compo. He said: "It was a lot of work but I did enjoy it."

Nicole Annetts got her inspiration for the artwork after seeing flashing lights and lasers at a Little Mix concert in 2019, which she pictured in the background of her piece.

Her favourite member to have been in the group is Jessie Nelson, she said: "I enjoyed it. My favourite part was doing the lips and makeup."

Gemma Murphy created a countryside scene which included a beautiful rainbow. She said: "Countryside scenes are my favourite. I like doing jigsaw puzzles and putting the buttons on was kind of like that."

Salisbury Journal: Adrian Hammond, Nicole Annetts and Gemma Murphy painting their artwork.Adrian Hammond, Nicole Annetts and Gemma Murphy painting their artwork. (Image: Meadows Day Service)

Josh Gazard is "absolutely obsessed" with TV star Bradley Walsh and decided to create a mosaic of him.

Dez, talking on behalf of Josh, said: "He had a lot of patience and was always telling jokes in the sessions. He surprised himself and when he got to the end he couldn't believe he had done it." 

Josh plans to show Bradley his finished work of art and hopes to hear back from his favourite celebrity.

Salisbury Journal: Josh Gazard glueing buttons onto his artwork.Josh Gazard glueing buttons onto his artwork. (Image: Meadows Day Service)

This was one of the first large-scale art projects run by the team at the Meadows.

Dez said that he wanted the customers to feel as though they are "part of the community" and get some recognition for their efforts.

The artworks were on display in Five Rivers Leisure Centre for the whole of March.

For more information about the Meadows day opportunity service, visit adults.wiltshire.gov.uk/Services/13/The-Meadows-Salisbur.