Brighton artist Hannah Shillito supports Survivors Network

Hannah Shillito asked members of the Brighton Girl group on social media to come forward and share their stories.

After her plea was posted on social media, she was approached by scores of willing volunteers.

Her exhibition Brighton Girls are Bright On Art and is helping raise money and awareness of the Survivors Network, a charity which supports women who have suffered violence and sexual abuse.

Hannah said: “While we’ve been locked up in lockdown it has been hard to feel creatively inspired... and more than that it has been hard to feel like part of a community.

“The Brighton Girl network has provided us with that and more, and I have made so many inspiring new friends as well as allowing my art to take off in ways that I never imagined - with a new gallery owner seeing my art and exhibiting it and the charity Survivors Network reaching out and becoming involved too.”

Hannah Shillito hosted her exhibition with excited women coming to see their portraits

“The Brighton Girl network has provided us with that and more, and I have made so many inspiring new friends as well as allowing my art to take off in ways that I never imagined - with a new gallery owner seeing my art and exhibiting it and the charity Survivors Network reaching out and becoming involved too.”

She said the lockdown restrictions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has made it tougher for people to get the help they need.

“Charities like this need to get the recognition they so rightfully deserve,” she said.

Last month her exhibition at the Broken Arrowz Gallery in Madeira Drive opened for a private viewing.

There were plenty of smiles as women arrived to see their portraits and see Hannah unveiling her art.

Hundreds of portraits featured in the exhibition

There were plenty of smiles as women arrived to see their portraits and see Hannah unveiling her art.

Hannah is a freelance artist, photographer and writer originally from the northwest of England who has lived all over the world including in Tokyo, New York, Cape Town, the Himalayas and Milan.

Now she lives in Brighton, and her recent projects have included an illustrated poetry book and children's book, as well as an exhibition of a collection of her art in The Lanes.

She is accepting commissions worldwide and has drawn for cookery channels, music videos, Bird and Blend and other small commercial businesses.

Artist Hannah Shillito is supporting Survivors Network in Brighton

Her portraits can be purchased, and a percentage of sales will go to Survivors Network.

To find out more about her work visit www.hannahshillitoart.com.

To find out more about Survivors Network, including support a the Rape Crisis Centre, visit survivorsnetwork.org.uk.