AN ARTIST has conquered a long-term mental health condition to appear at a prestigious art fair.

Shannon Sait, of South Heighton, near Newhaven, will appear at Brighton Art Fair at the end of the month.

The 44-year-old has always wanted to be an artist but her condition, which went undiagnosed for more than 20 years, made it difficult to make much progress.

Her condition is known as dysthymia, a mood disorder which causes depression.

Shannon graduated from Brighton University with a degree in fine art in 1992. She was a long-term Brighton resident and recently moved to the South Downs National Park.

She said: “I am a woman in her 40s, so people will think, ‘Where have you been for the past 20 years?’ “Having gone through all this and come out the other side is massive. For me the acceptance of Brighton Art Fair is just beyond words. It is huge for me because I desperately wanted to be involved. I am over the moon.”

She added: “My pieces are landscapes of the mind. They are built on the beauty that is the Sussex landscape, which is my inspiration.”

Shannon said her art has been a good outlet for her and believes her work is at the art fair on merit.

She said: “I think my work deserves to be there. It is a great way to express yourself.”

Shannon is exhibiting between six and eight pieces of work at the fair and her next aim is to apply for a London art fair.

On the road to recognition, she said: “You have to work at it and put in time. You have to be in it for the long haul.”