An artist has raised funds for a snowsports charity after being stranded in Japan.

Lizzie Walker-Arnott, 32, from Winchester, was in the snowy mountains of Japan in February 2020 when the global pandemic struck.

She had quit her job and moved to Hokkaido, on one of the country's main islands, days before the lockdown was imposed.

More than 7,500 miles from home, she took up illustration to help take her mind off the situation, creating mountain-inspired artwork.

This has led her to produce a new series of snowsports-inspired art, which is helping to raise funds and awareness for adaptive ski and snowboard charity Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK).

The artwork is inspired by the mountains (Image: Supplied) Ms Walker-Arnott said: "When the world came to a standstill I was on the other side of the world and it quickly became clear that my travels would need to be put on hold.

"It was obviously a tough time for everyone, but thankfully, the local mountain resort in Japan did stay open – so we could still get outside and ski.

"So even though it felt like a bit of a ghost town, there were worse places to be for those few weeks.

"Despite the ability to still get outside, being so far from home and not knowing what was going on created some stress and anxiety, within the adventure of it all.

"I tried to take the positives and became inspired by the local mountains to create new art – that was my mental outlet.

"I work as a graphic designer but lockdown in Japan was the catalyst I needed to create my own illustrations and set up my own online shop.

The snowsports-inspired art is raising funds for Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK) (Image: Supplied) "I take great inspiration from nature and the mountains and like to simplify themes from the outdoors in my illustrations.

"I definitely feel at my happiest when I’m outside being active.

"I hope my artwork can inspire more people to experience the mountains and the money raised for DSUK will give opportunities to more disabled children and adults into snowsports – giving them the same feeling of joy and happiness being in the mountains gives to me and so many."

Lizzie’s prints can be purchased directly on the Disability Snowsport website, with 100 per cent of proceeds going to DSUK.