AN INTERIOR designer will celebrate 25 years in the industry by applying her skills to a zebra. 

Karen Chapman, from Hartley Wintney has been invited to take part in the Zany Zebras project, which is a public art event organised by the charity Marwell Wildlife. 

The programme has been set up by the organisation which runs Marwell Zoo, near Winchester, to help with the preservation of the endangered Grevy’s zebra. 

Karen, who works under the company name Renaissance Interiors of Hartley Wintney, will join local mural artist Jasen Barker in designing a unique design to decorate a large-scale sculpture of the at-risk mammal. 

The pair’s sculpture will join a range of other artists from across Hampshire as part of a zebra trail in Southampton for a 10-week period. At the end of the exhibition, the decorated zebras will be auctioned off, with all the money raised going towards conservation work in Africa. 

Karen has been creating bespoke designs for people’s homes for 25 years and jumped at the opportunity to be part of the Zany Zebra project. 

She said: “Like many children living in the south, my son and daughter used to love visiting Marwell Zoo. 

“As a supporter of their conservation work, when I found myself presented with the opportunity to take part in the Zany Zebras project I jumped at the chance. 

“I am looking forward to using my imagination and creative flair to come up with something stylish and a bit different. 

“I am very excited to be part of this project and see it as a really meaningful way to celebrate my business anniversary.” 

The Zany Zebras project comes after the huge success of Marwell’s Go! Rhinos project in 2013. 

The Grevy’s zebra has been declining in numbers for the last 40 years and can now be found in just two of the six countries they used to be found in. 

Zany Zebras will be on display throughout Southampton from July 16.

To see the progress of Karen’s sculpture visit interiordesignersuk.org.