A woman from Wimbledon has launched an interactive art platform which brings quirky ideas to life through audience-artist collaboration.

Emily Harris, 28, decided to launch 'We Make Art' at the beginning of the first lockdown in March 2020, and has since used the platform to fundraise for charity.

'We Make Art' allows Emily's Instagram followers to request anything that comes to mind-  to be transformed into a vibrant creation.

"I have a few favourites but they fall into two categories," said Emily.

"One are the submissions that are of things people miss - so we’ve had lambs at a rave, hippos disco dancing.

Your Local Guardian:

"The other favourites are when they align with politics- It was good to poke fun at Donald Trump stuck in a peach. 

"And also depict a different force for good, Kamala Harris, surrounded by flowers and showing that power can look different to an angry man in a suit!"

Originally, the 28-year-old brought designs to life through her personal Instagram account but has since created a separate page following it's success. 

She said: "I was getting so much feedback and people were really enjoying it during quite a boring and unnerving time last year.

Your Local Guardian:

"I decided to do a fundraiser this January for Mind, which is really personal for me.

"I've used their sign postings when I was struggling with my anxiety in university and a few of my friends have used their services as well.

"I'm very lucky and very privileged and I can only imagine the strain on people's mental health this January."

Instagram followers are able to watch their designs come to life through recorded videos on the 'We Make Art' platform.

"I hope the upsurge we've seen in appreciating the arts and creativity for mental well-being continues long after the pandemic," said Emily.

Your Local Guardian:

"The work of Mind is hugely important, especially now. Being locked in our homes is having a negative effect.

"Mind help keep the conversation about mental health going and current, providing coping mechanisms for everyone. But they are also at crisis point.

"Any money raised is going to supporting people when at their most vulnerable and to ease that suffering through real support.

"So far, our little community has made £500 for the charity and I hope we’ll reach £600 by the end of the weekend."

Emily’s fundraiser will close this Sunday, January 31.

To find out more about Mind's work visit their website here. 

You can follow @we_makeart on Instagram.