My name is Samuel Hilliard and I am from Tallaght, Co. Dublin. Despite living with Autism I am very independent. I  work as an assistant pizza chef in an Italian kitchen, where I use my hands to create delicious pizzas and Italian breads.

Alongside my passion for cooking and baking, I also enjoy trips to the cinema, particularly watching movies about superheroes and comics like Marvel. I have been drawing and painting since I was young. I love sketching and painting freehand, mainly still life, facial portraits, landscapes, seascapes, superheroes, nature, and animals. I take inspiration from artists like Leonardo da Vinci but I also love learning new styles. 

Showcasing my art talents to the world and making my family proud is a goal of mine. Being involved in the Connecting Artists 2023 program has been a great opportunity for me to do this. I previously exhibited my artwork in a school exhibition and I look forward to showing my work to a larger audience this July. It is an amazing opportunity for me.