Born in artistic family in Tokyo, Mari painted/created art through childhood with private tutors. Losing her mother aged 11, Mari used painting to understand and reflect her own emotions throughout her teens. In her 20s, she started working as a graphic designer/illustrator. At the same time, she was oil painting and exhibited in her native Tokyo.

Coming to the UK in 2001, she didn’t pick up a paint brush until 2020, when the double whammy of lockdown and a diagnosis of autism forced her to reassess herself. Painting has enabled her to express her emotions and accept herself for who she is and she is enjoying creating art more than ever before. She uses a lot of fish - for her they are the symbol being between life and death.

Painting (Acrylic and oil) is her main material, however, for art exhibitions she also creates 3D collage, semi-3D collage and sculpt.