This week's lunchtime masterclass is with Marie Guerlain, an artist and humanitarian who is part of the sixth generation of the Guerlain perfume and cosmetics dynasty.

Marie was born in Paris, brought up in London and Switzerland, and later trained at Chelsea College of Art and Parsons School of Design in New York.

Marie is passionate about her form of surrealist art. She draws inspiration from her heroes; Freda Kahlo, Picasso and Matisse as well as the exotic landscapes from her extensive travels across the continents; from Morocco to Malaysia to Hong Kong.

Her subjects are wide ranging. Iron Lady, a surrealist portrait of Joan of Arc stemmed from her experiences while in New York during 9/11.

With exhibitions in Adam Street and the UK art scene’s definitive gallery destination Cork Street in London under her belt, 2011 saw Guerlain’s second solo exhibition in the capital's New Bond Street.

Marie is also a philanthropist, and she takes an active role in a number of charities which promote international child welfare. She was previously the Chairman and Executive Director of the UK arm of Innocence in Danger, an international child welfare organisation established in 1999 as part of an UNESCO initiative.

Marie’s family dynasty began in 1828 with the launch of the French perfumery, The House of Guerlain, in Paris. In 1994, Marie’s father Eric Guerlain merged the perfume empire with the luxury brand Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey (LVMH).

This web chat has now finished but you can read all the questions posed to Marie and her replies in the comments section below

Live web chat: Marie Guerlain