Marianne Stradling, a self-taught artist from Ross-on-Wye, hosted an exhibition at the Library last week. Marianne has developed a formula for producing her masterpieces, and explains that her secret is, “Just simple maths.”

Marianne explained her maths formula when she spoke to the Ross Gazette in April, but it did not sound quite so simple. The detail, shading and depth of field in her artwork is flawless, and many of the images in her portfolio look as though they are photographs, but Marianne is very humble when it comes to her talent.

Marianne has two conditions, Asperger’s Syndrome and Epilepsy. While her epilepsy is not controlled by drug therapy, she wears a magnet on her wrist, which she sweeps over an implant to allieviate her symptoms.

The effects of Marianne’s Asperger’s Syndrome have also been a burden for her to bear. When she was a child, she was bullied by her peers, but she said that when she began working on her art as a teenager, she said that it no longer bothered her.

Marianne, finds solace in religion and prays everyday. She believes that her talent was sent by God because she had her first flash of inspiration while she was in Church, at the age of 14.

She manages both her conditions, and has done so from a very young age. While she finds this very tiring, she has support locally; Anne Gray, the former Mayoress of Ross-on-Wye often goes out with her when Marianne wants to take photographs to copy for her artwork.

Anne explained that as Marianne often has fits, it would not be safe for her to go out by herself for the day, and so she receives one-on-one care to ensure she is out of harm’s way.

The work that was on display were copies of her orignial art. Her parents keep these safe, as they are very precious.

Marianne said that she had received a lot of very positive comments from the visitors to her exhibition, but she remains very modest. “I don’t want to show off,” she said.