Bay of Plenty artist Kerrin Tilley, who paints by holding the brush in his mouth, has had three of his paintings published in an art calendar and Christmas card.

The paintings, entitled ‘Song of the Tui’, ‘Echoes in Blue’ and ‘Tui’, feature in the Christmas range produced by the Mouth and Foot Paintings Artists, an international art group, of which Kerrin is a member.

MFPA has 850 members in 84 countries throughout the world.

Bay of Plenty artist Kerrin Tilley's Tui, painted by using a brush in his mouth.  Photo / Supplied.

“Here in Ōpōtiki we are surrounded with beautiful flora and fauna, I’m lucky to have abundance of tui and other native birds around,” Tilley said.

“These give me inspiration for my art, I’d like to try a few more of our native birds. Here we have a couple of kowhai trees as well as non-native which we have planted over the years, these attract the tui and pigeons when in bloom. They are lovely to watch and its nice listening to their song chorus during the day, especially waking up to it in the morning. The Tui is quite territorial and will give other birds a hurry up.”

Tilley said he incorporated a tui in a pohutukawa with its bright flowers as he thought it would make a pleasant Christmas card.

Bay of Plenty artist Kerrin Tilley's 'Song of the Tui', painted by using a brush in his mouth.  Photo / Supplied.

“With the pohutukawa flowering late November, December they are considered our Christmas tree,” Tilley said.

“I’ve never dived with whales or dolphins, but I did enjoy diving when younger mostly just to collect kaimoana. It is a memory I treasure and glad I had the opportunity to participate in.

“It is a completely different world down there. Whales are magnificent animals; I tried to do justice with my painting of a mother with her calf. I was pleased with the outcome and thrilled it was reproduced in Australia’s 2026 calendar.”

The selection of the pictures for the products for the Christmas range is made by a panel of European experts. Tilley said it is “hot competition”.

“And as the products this year include paintings by seven New Zealand artists they have clearly ‘punched above their weight’ to be successful against artists from so many countries.”

After suffering a neck injury playing rugby Tilley’s previous occupation as a dairy farmer was no longer possible, so he now earns his income as an artist and paints with a brush held in his mouth. He has risen above adversity to produce artwork of a standard to match any able-bodied artist. Many of his paintings depict his love of the outdoor life which includes landscapes and wildlife.

Bay of Plenty artist Kerrin Tilley's 'Echoes in Blue', painted by using a brush in his mouth.  Photo / Supplied.
 

The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists gain their income through the sale of products illustrated with their paintings and although this started with Christmas cards, today it includes a wide list of products ranging from special occasion cards, jigsaws, tea sets, address books, calendars, Christmas serviettes and placemats, gift tags and wrapping paper.

Founded in 1956 by a group of European artists, the MFPA is a self-help organisation that gives people with disabilities the opportunity to fulfil their creative ambitions while still maintaining financial independence by selectively selling their artworks.

The MFPA was established in New Zealand in 1961 and currently has 25 members around the country.

To become a student member an artist must qualify by painting using a brush held in either their mouth or foot, having lost the use of their hands through an illness or accident. Student members receive scholarships for art supplies and tuition.

To learn more about MFPA or purchase products visit https://www.mfpa.co.nz