Mackenzie Thorpe shares his extraordinary journey from a dyslexic child in working-class Middlesbrough to a globally celebrated artist whose work touches hearts worldwide.

• Born with an innate urge to draw on anything available—stones, cigarette packets, fireplace ashes
• Struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia at school, describing himself as "word blind" rather than seeing jumbled letters
• Found escape through art, developing a three-dimensional thinking ability that compensated for traditional learning challenges
• Created his iconic square sheep series after a car accident in 1990, representing his family and his role as protector
• Gained international recognition when Salvador Dali's former manager discovered his work and introduced it to global audiences
• Balances creating joyful, whimsical art that's commercially successful while privately producing darker works that express his personal struggles
• Maintains a mission to encourage others to embrace their creativity despite obstacles or discouragement
• Met Queen Elizabeth II to present a commissioned Jubilee painting depicting the Northeast's resilience and celebration
• Lives by Van Gogh's motto: "If you can't go to work, go to work"

You can follow Mackenzie on Instagram: @artistmackenzie

His website is: www.mackenziethorpe.com

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