'FROM creative accountant to creative artist'.

That is how Pool-in-Wharfedale man Jeremy Vaughan describes the journey he's been on since suffering a stroke two years ago.

Jeremy was just 49 and a finance director when he experienced a massive bleed on the right side of his brain in April, 2016.

The stroke caused a major loss of function down his left hand side and resulted in him being hospitalised for seven months.

Once back home he quickly became frustrated at his limited mobility - until, by chance, he stumbled into the world of art and found a whole new focus.

This weekend, less than two years after his stroke, Jeremy will exhibit* some of his paintings in Pool alongside works by local photographer Michelle Peart.

Recalling how he got started, he said: "In the Spring of 2017, inspired by my daughter Francesca’s drawings for art in school, I asked her to do some painting with me.

"She rapidly got bored with the paint and went back to her drawing, but I was hooked.

"I began painting every day and when I wasn’t painting I was looking at art materials on-line, or visiting Hobbycraft, or getting my wife to take me out in the car for inspiration and to take photos of flowers.

"I began physiotherapy with the community neuro team at a similar time and I was able to tie my physio goals to my painting.

"I began walking very short distances without my stick – literally to the sink and back, carrying my brushes to wash them."

He had last painted back in his teens, while studying Art O Level at school, but has now discovered a real passion for it.

His wife, Vicky, said: "This will be Jeremy's second exhibition, his first was last November.

"Once he started that was it.

"The first exhibition came about through the encouragement of a friend of ours, Michelle Peart, who used to be a graphic designer and is now an amateur photographer.

"She gave Jeremy lots of positive feedback and Jeremy took it on board.

"It would never have occurred to either of us to exhibit his work, and before Jeremy’s stroke he never would have gone ahead with it.

"But he would absolutely recommend artistic pursuits to others who have had a stroke.

"It has literally saved his sanity, not to mention giving his physio and occupational therapy very practical goals.

"For Jeremy his painting has given the structure to his life which, without work, was missing."

Jeremy added: "With my first paintings everything would lean to the right, or I might miss the left side of the canvas completely due to my left side inattention and vision loss; I had to make a very conscious effort to look to the left.

"My painting has helped me literally re-embrace the left side of my world and stopped me falling into depression, which is such a common thing for people who have suffered such a traumatic, life-changing event.

"I certainly don’t class myself as a fine artist, however I would like to think my paintings can bring some joy to people and my story can bring hope."

*The exhibition takes place at Pool Village Hall from 11am to 6pm on Saturday, March 10.