ARTIST Patricia Lee has won the opportunity to create a bespoke piece of work which featured on BBC1 show Home Is Where the Art Is this week.

Hosted by DIY SOS frontman and I’m A Celebrity campmate, Nick Knowles, the programme challenges artists to create works for people they've never met.

Patricia, 53, who creates glass art in her Holmes Chapel studio, won the pitch against fellow artists Nick Coley and Jo Allsopp. 

The three had the opportunity to snoop around the house of a mystery buyer before pitching their ideas.

“This was a completely new way of working,” said Patricia.

“Usually when I’m commissioned to create a piece of art, it’s always through a direct conversation with the client - it’s a two-way thing.

"You can get a real understanding of what they want, even though they often don’t know themselves."

Knutsford Guardian:

Patricia in her studio

The mystery buyer, Rabinda Senghera (Ravi), wanted to commission a piece of art celebrating the close bond between her mother and herself after donating 60 per cent of her liver to her mother three years ago.

“I didn’t meet Ravi until the pitch that was filmed for the TV show so it was an incredibly nervewracking experience,” said Patricia.

“I saw that family was at the centre of life in Ravi’s house. She had lots of family photos with angels watching over them.

"One thing that really stood out to me was a fridge magnet of Michealangelo’s ‘The Creation of Adam' from the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling which depicts God breathing life into Adam.

"It’s about the gift of life and this is what Ravi’s story is all about - her selfless act  gave her mum the gift of life. That completely floored me. I absolutely knew, at that moment, what my artwork would be about.”

“All three artists are really talented in their own right but Patricia’s pieces were really special,” said Ravi.

“The reason that I linked it to me and my mum was because I really want people to know that the live donor process is just unbelievably brilliant and that if there’s anyone who is unsure about it then they will be able to see that it really is worth the journey.

"I'm really pleased with my art piece. It’s just beautiful and I love it - as does my mum.”  

Patricia said the pitching was "incredibly emotional.”

She said: “I’d created a piece of art that I had completely connected with. I hoped that I’d got it right but, when I saw the expression on Ravi’s face, I knew she absolutely understood what my art was about.

"I tried so hard to hold it together during the pitch but I felt overwhelmed by the whole thing. It was such a personal piece for Ravi and I really wanted her to feel a connection with the finished piece.

"I called my piece ’Everything’ because that’s what Ravi did for her mum.”

Knutsford Guardian:

Patricia at Liverpool Museum

This isn’t the first time Patricia has done a high-profile art project.

In 2009 her Mandy MandalaSuperlambanana was the star of Liverpool’s capital of culture celebrations, and now resides in the Museum of Liverpool on Albert Dock as a legacy to Liverpool’s creativity.

Patricia also runs craft courses in Glass Fusing, Stained Glass and Mosaic at her studio All That Glass, as well as working with schools, hospitals, NHS Trusts, the prison service and community groups to create art for public spaces.