A Bollington artist with Down's syndrome is working on a special exhibition for a popular annual event.

MACC-POW!, Macclesfield's boutique comic art festival, returns for its 11th year this summer.

Ahead of the release of the full guest line-up, 23-year-old artist Ava Reid has been commissioned to create a series of acrylic paintings of female characters from the world of comics.

Festival director Marc Jackson said: "Ava wasn't familiar with the world of comics, and seeing her work celebrate pop-culture characters from that world is really exciting to see.

"Bringing two very different worlds together is what MACC-POW! Is all about.

"Ava is the perfect additional to this year's festival"

The series of paintings entitled 'Ava's female force to be reckoned with' will be displayed at RedWillow on Park Green prior to and during the festival weekend in June.

It will then relocate to RedWillow in Buxton for another month's display.

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Marc, owner of Room for Comics, added: "Ava, came to our attention about three years ago when she started working with local artist Becca Smith on her artwork.

"Ava, who has Down's syndrome, found that painting was an outlet for her creativity, and her ability grew each time she put brush to canvas.

"In 2023 Ava displayed her first solo exhibition of work at Pinc College in the Macclesfield Heritage centre, and I was really impressed with what I saw.

"Her follow-up exhibition at the end of 2024 impressed me even more, and I was struck with an idea.

"After a meeting with Ava, and her mum Heidi Reid, a local artist in her own right, I put my idea forward to them and they loved it!"