A giant painting by residents of homes run by learning disability charity Mencap is on show at the Eden Project. Measuring nearly six feet by eight feet, the colourful work was unveiled last week bly Restormel Borough Council Mayor Denise Mutton in the presence of the 32 artists who produced it.
The painting is a 'jigsaw' reproduction of a work called Bulb Mania by the Eden Project's painter in residence John Dyer.
The original painting was photographed, blown up in size, an d then divided, so that different people could copy different sections of the painting on individual canvases.
Support worker Shelley Law, who is based at Waterloo House in St Mawes, developed the project in response to Mencap's appeal for its homes to do something special to mark the charity's 60th anniversary this year.
Residents from seven of the county's Mencap homes were involved in the painting, but last week was the first time that any of them had seen the whole painting come together.
Fellow support worker Julie Hitchings said the artists were thrilled to recognise their individual paintings in the finished work.
"Everyone put a lot of work into the project and it was amazing how quick the artists were to spot their contribution. It was a great thing to do and everyone enjoyed it," she said.
The work will be displayed in the Education Centre at the Eden Project until Sunday, April 15.
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As part of MENCAP's 60 year celebration 32 service users from 7 MENCAP houses across Cornwall each painted a section of this original painting Bulb Mania by the Eden Project's resident painter John Dyer.
The original painting was photographed, blown up in size, and then divided, so that different people could copy different sections of the painting on individual canvases.
The painting depicts the Eden Project in full bloom and was displayed at the Eden project in April 2007 - the work was unveiled by Restormel Borough Council Mayor Denise Mutton in the presence of the 32 artists who produced it.
Support worker Shelley Law, who is based at Waterloo House in St Mawes, developed the project in response to Mencap's appeal for its homes to do something special to mark the charity's 60th anniversary:
"Everyone put a lot of work into the project and it was amazing how quick the artists were to spot their contribution. It was a great thing to do and everyone enjoyed it," she said.
The work is now on permanent display in the Royal Cornwall Hospital Truro.
