Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Field Fisher Waterhouse hosts exhibition of leading Mouth and Foot Painting Artist

Law firm, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP recently hosted Keith Jansz’s first solo art exhibition, called “Seeing the Light”, in the firm’s London offices. Keith paints with his mouth, and is a member of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA).

In June 1995, Keith was involved in a car accident after which he was left tetraplegic. The crash resulted in the loss of the use of his hands and legs, and complete paralysis from the neck down due to a spinal injury, which broke the vertebra in the C5/C6 area. After being given a book about the MFPA, Keith decided to take up painting with the added challenge of painting with his mouth and not his hands.

Keith had to make adjustments in order to get to grips with his paralysis, and had adaptations made to his brushes to help enable him to successfully hold them in his mouth and then began the task of learning to paint. His perseverance paid off however when in 1998 he was accepted as a Student Artist with the MFPA and as a Full Member Artist in 2000.

The opening night of his solo exhibition was a great success, with 20 pieces of work being sold. Attendees included Professor Ken Howard, Mark Field MP, and representatives from Motivation, the charity that Keith supports. Other organisations that the firm’s Personal Injury group has close links with were also in attendance, including the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), the Brain Injury Social Work Group (BISWG) and Headway, the brain injury association.

A percentage of all sales from the exhibition will be donated to Motivation, an international disability and development charity that works in low-income countries to enhance the quality of life of people with mobility disabilities.

Field Fisher Waterhouse is committed to supporting the arts and hold regular exhibitions. This latest exhibition follows the Matt Lamb exhibition held at the firm’s offices late last year.

Keith Jansz was first introduced to Field Fisher Waterhouse through Jill Greenfield, a personal injury lawyer who specialises in recovering compensation for those with spinal injuries.

Jill Greenfield, personal injury partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse, said: “We are tremendously please to be able to host Keith’s first solo exhibition in London, and support his work.”

FFW PR Contact:
Jill Greenfield
Partner
Personal Injury Practice
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
35 Vine Street
London
EC3N 2AA
United Kingdom
020 7861 4557
http://www.ffw.com/