Lanark artist Shirley Marzella swaps designing TV sets for helping others

A Lanark based artist has swapped working on television sets to helping vulnerable groups discover their artistic side.

Shirley Marzella (40) has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry having commissions at the prestigious Pinewood Studios and at the BBC designing wigs and special effects among other things.

However, she now spends her time helping groups at the specialist Artlink centre in Stirling.

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Shirley said: “I got into the business by basically having a brass neck. “For the next six years I worked in various positions working on stage management, make-up, wigs and special effects with various theatre companies.

“When my daughter Sophie was born everything changed for me and you have to prioritise what is really important to you.

“The job I do is not consistent; you could be working on one project and then not have any work for several weeks, as well as having to work away.

“Helping Artlink is a great way of passing on what I have learned and I enjoy helping the kids. It’s a great project and it is very rewarding.”

For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.

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