Are you related to one of the Tolpuddle Martyrs? If so, you could help create artwork for an exciting new exhibit.

Artist Jason Wilsher-Mills will be working with Dorset schools and descendants of the Tolpuddle Martyrs to create new artwork for Dorchester’s Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum.

The museum is set to open in May, and Mr Wilsher-Mills is hoping to create a new augmented reality exhibit featuring each of the six martyrs.

Shire Hall courtroom was famously where the six men were tried and sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia– all for swearing an oath of secrecy.

The men wanted to form a union to ask for fair wages, at a time when agricultural workers in Dorset were struggling. The Tolpuddle Martyrs arrest, trial and subsequent punishment sparked the Trade Union movement.

Earlier this month Mr Wilsher-Mills' work, Brave Boy Billy, which saw him work with disabled children to help them tell their story, was exhibited in the Tate Modern to wide acclaim. He also created a banner based on the Tolpuddle Martyrs story for the Road to Freedome exhibition in Parliament in 2015, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Magna Carta. Museums could then apply for the artworks and Shire Hall was granted the Tolpuddle Martyrs banner.

He said the themes of social justice and giving a voice to those without one was very close to his heart as a disabled artist, who grew up in Yorkshire heavily influenced by the Tolpuddle Martyrs story due to his coal miner father.

Mr Wilsher-Mills has chronic polyneuropathy, a condition which as a teenager left him paralysed from the neck down for five years. He was told by the doctors he would be lucky to reach 16. Now at nearly 50, with a wife, family and successful career, he says he feels ‘very blessed.'

Mr Wilsher-Mills said the Tolpuddle Martyrs story was ‘in his DNA’.

He added: “It’s a beautiful story. The power of solidarity, the power that piece of paper the men signed had, it was stronger than weapons. They were pivotal in starting this movement that made the lives of others better. It’s really exciting.”

He will be holding workshops in schools from April 23 and then workshops for the Tolpuddle Martyr descendants from April 30 to May 4. He says he hopes to work with as many descendants as possible to hear their stories and urged everyone to get involved.

He said: “I’m really excited, it’s a lovely opportunity. I’m really looking forward to it.”

For more information about how to get involved email anne.brown@shirehalldorset.org