A dementia art project has launched to raise funds for the National Brain Appeal.

The project, christened 'Mindflow', is the brainchild of Devon-based visual artist, Paul Stretton-Stephens, and his wife, Lesley.

Mindflow will be sponsored by The Ness Hub, a new specialist dementia hub in Exmouth.

The project has been designed to help deconstruct public misconceptions around the arts within the dementia community and advocate the belief that creativity continues thriving in individuals living with dementia.

Paul, and his wife Lesley who resides with rare mixed dementia, maintain that art is potent in fostering self-esteem, communication, emotional expression, and confidence.

In their words: "Apart from that, it’s fun and provides a sense of purpose with tangible results."

The Mindflow project utilizes a unique style of art known as Fusion Hybrid Art.

Participants will have the opportunity to interact with a gamut of coloured and patterned textiles.

These fabrics will be selected and used to forge a composition that will then be photographed by Mr Stretton-Stephens.

He will subsequently construct a custom digital palette with which he will paint the image digitally.

The final artwork piece is then birthed as a digital paint creation displaying diversity in textures and colours.

The project, which spans throughout 2024, will avail resulting artworks as calendars, prints, and in other available formats with 50 per cent of all proceeds committed to the National Brain Appeal.

Organisers are on the lookout for 15 individuals living with dementia who are not only willing to explore their creativity but are also interested in 'having a bit of fun'.

Specific requirements stipulate that participants and their aides must commit to a two-hour session at The Ness Exmouth to establish the artwork's foundation.

Following this initial session, participants and their aides will be invited to a 30-minute to one-hour session to peruse the completed artwork.

Participants are also expected to be present at the project’s End of the Year Exhibition at The Ness.

Mr Stretton-Stephens urges anyone interested or those caring for potential participants to seize the opportunity to contribute to this venture.

Further details about participation can be obtained from Mr Stretton-Stephens who said: "If you are interested or you care for someone who you feel may benefit from participation in this project please contact me for more details where I'll be delighted to talk you through the project."

He can be contacted via his website, paulstrettonstephens.com.