INTERIOR designer Karen Chapman is celebrating 25 years of transforming homes by applying her design skills to zebras.

Renaissance Interiors, of Hartley Wintney, has been invited to take part in Zany Zebras, a public art event organised by the charity Marwell Wildlife.

Together with mural and trompe l’oeil artist Jasen Barker, Karen will design and decorate a large-scale sculpture of the endangered Grevy’s zebra.

A number of artists have been selected to create the dazzle of zebras, which will feature for 10 weeks in a sculpture trail in Southampton. At the end of the exhibition, the zebras will be auctioned to raise money for conservation work in Africa.

Karen, who is also a sponsor of Zany Zebras, explains why she decided to get involved.

“Like many children living in the south, my son and daughter used to love visiting Marwell Zoo,” she said. “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 have been creating bespoke designs for people’s homes for 25 years but this is the first zebra I have ever had to design. I am looking forward to using my imagination and creative flair to come up with something stylish and a bit different. I am excited to be part of this project and see it as really meaningful way to celebrate my business anniversary.”

Over the past 40 years, the number of Grevy’s zebras living in the wild has rapidly declined and they are now resident in just two out of the six countries that they used to be found.

* Visit interiordesignersuk.org.