Optometrist commissioned for charity artwork

A Surrey optometrist has created a piece of artwork for the founder and director of an interfaith charity providing refuges across seven states in India.

Mital Patel, optometrist and director at Specsavers Walton-on-Thames, was commissioned to create an artwork for Sister Lucy Kurien, founder and director of the charity, Maher.

The charity is based in Pune, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, and provides short and long-stay homes for women, children, and men in need of refuge and safety. Homes have been established in Jharkhand, Kerala, West Bengal, Karnataka, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh.

The organisation provides training and guidance to support individuals to return to life outside of the refuge.

In recognition for her work in the charity, Sister Lucy has received several awards and met figures including Pope Frances, the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, and former US president Bill Clinton.

Commissioned by Sister Lucy’s host family, the aim of the artwork was to reflect the charity’s inclusive and interfaith philosophy.

Commenting on the project, Patel said: “I felt very inspired by Sister Lucy’s work, combined with the heritage of my parents who originate from Gujarat in India.”

Patel added that having a personal interest in interfaith art created a “perfect link” for working on the commission.

The logo took two months to design and create. Patel used acrylic paint layered with glow-in-the-dark paint, to represent light in the darkness, for the artwork, which has been reproduced on a 12-inch vinyl record.

Patel said: “Having been fortunate to study and train to become an optometrist and a Specsavers store partner here in the UK, my heritage has always made me very aware of the inequalities around the world, and especially in India. So, I was delighted to be asked to create a piece of artwork for Maher representing interfaith and unity across all classes.”

Specsavers Walton-on-Thames has been fundraising as a practice team to support Maher, and has set up a JustGiving page with the aim of raising £500.