Local painter Luisa Preston is the artist behind bright and beautiful murals and window displays popping up around Strathaven.
The dazzling displays can be found on Strathaven Park's Boathouse, at East Kilbride's Village School of Music and further afield in Shawlands Arcade in the south side of Glasgow.
Inspired by the likes of legendary graffiti artist Banksy and Glasgow City Centre Mural Trail artist Smug One, Luisa is living the dream filling the world with colour through striking street art.
Graduating from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) with a degree in scenic art, Luisa, created large scale paintings for music and theatre which took the 34-year-old to London working for Sky TV show Got to Dance .
After leaving the TV business and returning home, Luisa took three years out to be a stay-at-home parent to children, Robin, eight, and Piper, six, before setting up Cocozza Aesthetic in 2018 and honing the art of window painting and murals.
And, thanks to members of the Strathaven community spreading word of Luisa's talent, business is booming.
Luisa told Lanarkshire Live: "The TV stuff just wasn't for me, I always wanted to draw. I've been drawing every single day of my life since I was three.
"Sometimes I still can't believe this is what I do for work. Doing what you love every day is a privilege.
"I sort of fell into window painting by accident. Theo the owner of Roasted cafe in Strathaven found out I was artistic, had an idea for a window painting and asked if I could do it.
"I went home and painted on my kids windows to see if it worked, and if it looked nice, and from there, Theo was my first window painting customer.
"I did a Banksy-inspired window for him for the Strathaven Balloon Festival in 2019 and people started getting in touch asking who did it. Before I knew it, I had lots of customers.
"Three years later I couldn't tell you how many windows I've painted - dozens upon dozens. I have regular customers in Strathaven and Glasgow - both local businesses and residential."
Booked right up until Christmas for themed window displays in people's homes in the lead up to Halloween and the festive season, Hamilton-born Luisa says it is this side of the business that has become their "bread and butter".
"The funny thing that has happened, especially in the new build estates around Strathaven is that when one person gets them done, I tend to get two or three people going 'you've done my neighbour's window but I want mine to be better'", Luisa added.
"I've done everything from Christmas trees to winter scenes to reindeers flying in the sky.
"Birthdays are also popular. It's a nice way to mark an occasion without having to buy a balloon - it's eco-friendly decorating your home as there's no waste.
"All my designs are unique and I talk to the customer about what suits their shop. Some are seasonal and some go by what suits their business, whether it's 'back to school' or 'Mother's Day'. It's a really nice way to advertise when you having something new going on.
"When you paint something on a window it goes from being a window you see every day to suddenly being something you can look at again.
"It's definitely becoming more of a thing with more window artists coming through.
"I love doing the windows but I would paint every surface in the world with a mural if I could. I love doing the murals and it gives me a chance to use all my skills that I got from uni.
"I also love working outside - but not in this weather.
Identifying as a 'queer' person with they/them pronouns, Luisa is also an advocate of LGBTQIA+ rights and ensures inclusivity is at the heart of all their art.
And Luisa's latest commission for The Village School of Music illustrated just that.
They went on: "The Village School of Music asked if I could come in and do something for them for their pupils returning after Covid to brighten the place up and make them smile.
"They were keen to have a rainbow aspect which I usually put in all my work anyway. Whenever I do windows I'm always really keen to be inclusive in terms of the LGBTQIA+ community.
"I'm a queer person and that's really important to me. There's always a little message of positivity: love is love and be you, and I don't need any encouragement to fill the world with rainbows."
A big fan of Banksy, Luisa paid a fantastic homage to his famous 'Balloon Girl' painting in the window of Roasted Cafe for the Strathaven Balloon Festival, replacing the heart balloon with a hot air balloon.
Coccoza Aesthetic is now in the early stages of designing a confectionary-inspired mural for a new dessert shop coming to Westwood Square, Sprinkles Express.
But the boathouse mural in Strathaven Park, is the one the local artist "holds dearest" as it gives a mention to Luisa's children.
"It's got a Piper bird and a Robin bird on it and my kids are Robin and Piper", Luisa said.
"The two of them are quite decent little artists themselves and that gives me a lot of joy that I can pass that creativity on to them."
After working alongside some the best in the business, including Glasgow Mural Trail artist Smug One, Luisa revealed aspirations to follow in the international artist's footsteps.
"Smug One does the majority of the big beautiful murals, his work is absolutely stunning.
"When I did my mural in the south side for SWG3 I got to meet some of the most incredibly talented people working on that particular project. Getting the opportunity to meet some of them and be in the same space as them was just incredible.
"I definitely look up to people who are doing these huge murals on skyscrapers and flat blocks - it's a bit of an aspiration of mine which I would love to do or just be a part of.
"I think the more street art you have up discourages folk from making graffiti on walls.
"I've never had a mural defaced or any issue with the work that I've done - I find that a good selling point."
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