THREE young Somerset artists have launched their limit-defying exhibition ‘Disability is not Inability’ in Taunton’s Library.

Milverton resident Dyana French, and siblings Cody and Connor Marchington – all 16 years of age - are working to challenge limiting beliefs around disability through their art which is now on display as part of their new roaming exhibition which was launched on Wednesday, April 23.

The trio came up with the idea of this new roaming exhibition last year, when their work was on display at TYCA (Taunton young Creative Arts) festival.

Cody Marchington, a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy and dystonia, had created a mixed media piece titled Disability does not mean Inability, which inspired the three artists to collaborate on a joint exhibition with the same name.

Cody said: “In school, I never thought I could do art because of my dystonia but now I use it as my guide.

“I was overlooked in school because I couldn’t make art like others could. I always thought that to do art, you had to draw, and you had to paint, but I can just throw paint on a canvas with my dystonia.

“I feel like I need to make the point that disabled people can make art, and they can be artists.”

The exhibition features work from all three artists. Dyana has on show a number of works visually representing their experience with autism, channeling their stimming – self-soothing behaviours - to create varying acrylic pieces; Cody shares their disability experience by using their dystonia as a guide to create textured marbled pieces; and Connor, twin to Cody, focusses on body image and mental health through photography and sculpture.

Disability is not Inability will be on tour for the coming year and will at Taunton Library until Friday, May 2, before it opens on Wells Cathedral on Saturday, May 3.