For most people, creating your own artistic masterpieces and designing Christmas cards goes no further than tissue paper and pencil crayons.
But for Foots Cray resident, Ranjit Bhamra, drawing using just his mouth became a necessity when he lost the use of his arms and legs as a toddler and received medical treated in a country where he couldn't speak the language.
News Shopper reporter, Fiona Simpson, met Mr Bhamra at his home in Saxon Walk to find out just how difficult mouth painting really is.
The Ugandan-born artist contracted polio, aged two, and was brought by his parents to Bexley in 1965 to receive treatment for the illness which has left him permanently wheelchair-bound.
Ranjit Bhamra with some of his artwork
Mr Bhamra has channelled the skills he once used to ask nurses for slices of toast to create stunning abstract paintings and watercolours and has also been spreading festive cheer as part of a national group, Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA), who have created a collection of glorious Christmas cards.
He said: "The ward sister wasn't keen on me drawing with my mouth to start with because I kept chewing the pencils up.
"I remember wanting toast so I drew triangles because it had been cut in to triangle shapes the day before, they brought it cut in to squares and I couldn't work out what it was - that's my earliest memory of communicating using mouth drawing."
The 57-year-old discovered the MFPA in 1977 and has been a student painter with the group since the mid 90s, meaning he has his work exhibited across London and the UK and receives funding for art supplies.
Mr Bhamra demonstrates mouth painting
He added: "It was a necessity at first but I grew to love painting and my skill has developed from there."
Mr Bhamra, who uses a combination of felt pens and watercolours to create his works of art, insists practice makes perfect when it comes to mouth painting - despite making it look effortless.
Painting at a desk in his specially adapted flat, decorated with his own work, the artist took a pen in his mouth and delicately demonstrated his skill on a watercolour of a weeping willow.
He said: "It took many years to perfect my technique because it’s really hard to learn to hold something in your mouth that’s quite fragile without breaking it and chewing the pens up.
"The skill is to hold it against the side of your mouth and steady it with your tongue."
Mr Bhamra added that all of his ideas come from his own imagination, inspired by things he sees on a daily basis, saying: "A lot of the time I create the image in my mind - like the weeping willow, I've always wanted to paint one.
"Sometimes I'll see things I want to paint and remember them."
It takes the painter, who also has a studio in Slade Green at The Inspire Community Trust - a charity promoting disability equality, of which he is the chairman, between eight and 10 hours to complete an A4-sized painting.
Mr Bhamra's artwork
He also uses his mouth for daily tasks such as writing, which is also harder than it looks.
Spurred on by the ease displayed by the artist, I decided to give mouth drawing a go - the technique is hard to grasp but I did manage to scrawl a barely legible version of my name and draw a stick-man.
Reporter, Fiona Simpson's attempt at mouth drawing
"Keep practising, I'll be interested to know how you get on," Mr Bhamra joked.
For more information about the MFPA visit: mfpa.uk
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