How Willenhall artist is helping put Wolverhampton on the map

So there is no doubt that Sunita Meen is already making waves in the art world with her eye-catching and colourful designs.

The 24-year-old was delighted to be asked by Marston's to create an art installation for its newly-revamped Chapel Ash offices – the first commission piece of her career.

It came after her work – an abstract silk-screen print on acrylic – caught the eye of brewery bosses at the University of Wolverhampton's Faculty of Arts Degree Show.

Sunita, who has long had a passion for art and is currently studying for a master's degree in fine art, specialises in creating oil-based paintings that play around with different mediums and materials.

As she paints, she enjoys using bright colouring and experimenting with different textures.

Shunning the traditional paintbrush, she uses a squeegee (the type used in silk screen printing) to apply the paint directly to perspex.

A gap is then left between the perspex and the glass so that when light shines on to the painting, the work appears to float within its frame.

This means she has developed a unique style which she uses to her advantage to ensure her work is not just colourful but is also viewed as beautiful by anyone who is looking at it.

It's creating something beautiful through art that she enjoys the most when she starts working on a design.

"I've always been interested in art and creating, enjoying drawing and painting when I was younger.

"My work now is very visual. I want to use colours that really make it stand out and for me it's all about beauty. I want people to look at my work and see the beauty in it but also be excited by it.

"I would just describe it as abstract painting. I don't use any traditional methods, I don't use a paintbrush or canvas. I start by trying out different colours to see what works. If I add something that doesn't work, I start again and repeat the colours that worked and try something different. I keep going until I'm happy it all works well and I've got the look I was after," she says.

One of her favourite artists is German painter Gerhard Richter, who is known for his abstract as well as photo-realistic work and has received plaudits from art fans around the globe.

Some of his most well-known work has sold for millions of pounds and he has had some high-profile commissions including designing a window for Cologne Cathedral.

"I use a similar process of painting. I really like his use of colour. He uses colours that I would never think to try together and I also really like the textures in his work," says Sunita.

At the time of the degree show in June, which featured the creations of more than 300 undergraduate students, she was working towards a BA honours fine art degree. Her show piece also impressed Marguerite Nugent, the head curator of Wolverhampton Art Gallery who awarded it a 'highly commended' on her visit.

Born and bred in Willenhall, Sunita had previously completed a part-time two year foundation course whilst working at a department store to help put herself through university.

"I was so surprised when I was asked to meet the Marston's team at the degree show. They explained what their idea was and I was really honoured that they wanted me to be a part of it," she says.

Marston's wanted not just a focal point for its atrium at Marston's House but also to celebrate Wolverhampton and the talent that can be found throughout the city.

Group estates director and project manager of Marston's House, Ed Hancock, explains: "For Marston's it was about having a platform to celebrate our home town. We decided to remain in Wolverhampton for a reason and by having an art piece that represented a new Marston's from a local artist was really important to us."

Sunita was asked to create one bold focal piece that encapsulated Marston's brand identity colours with a modern twist while still having a connection to the building itself.

With just over six weeks to design and create the piece, Sunita began by trialling the mixture of colours to make sure that the statement shades mirrored both her technique and an underlying Marston's tone.

After the work was finished, Sunita continued to be involved by helping with the framing and installation of the work in the atrium.

It was later unveiled in front of more than 120 guests including the Mayor and Mayoress of Wolverhampton, city council leaders and representatives from Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.

Dominating a feature wall in the atrium, her final 6ft by 4ft piece drew on the colours that she found around the premises such as the beer-inspired ambers, golds and ruby reds which contrasted with the teal-coloured design features throughout the building – something that immediately caught Sunita's artistic eye.

"When having a tour around the building, it was good to see that there was a colour scheme running throughout.

"I then picked up on all colours which were used and tested them all by blending them together," says Sunita who also found time to create a second smaller podium piece for the reception of the offices.

After the unveiling, her work received praise from Ralph Findlay, the chief executive of Marston's: "Having Sunita's work on display truly demonstrates the next step in the Marston's journey.

"I believe Sunita is a true talent and will be one of the next generation of artists to put Wolverhampton on the map."

Sunita says her friends and family were also very proud of her first professional commission. "They couldn't believe it when I was approached at my degree show. They were ecstatic and so was I," adds Sunita.

"It's amazing. It's a good start to my career and it's what I want to do for the rest of my life."

By Heather Large