ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
PETER AT WORK WITH HIS RIGHT HAND,
WHICH HE HAD TO TEACH HIMSELF TO
USE AGAIN AFTER HIS STROKE
IN HER EYES - POST STROKE
KENT ARTIST PROFILE:
WILD FLOWER GARDEN - PRE STROKE
PETER RUSHTON
FORCED TO GIVE UP A HIGH-FLYING CAREER AFTER HAVING A STROKE, BIRCHINGTON-BASED
ARTIST PETER RUSHTON, WHO HAS USED HIS LOVE OF ART TO HELP REBUILD HIS LIFE,
PREPARES FOR HIS FIRST EXHIBITION OF HIS POST-STOKE COLLECTION.
You have been on quite a journey to get to
this exhibition, what happened?
I was working as head of corporate communications
at a major bank in Bahrain in the Middle East and
whilst playing with my son Digby, then aged 11, I
was bitten by an insect. I suffered an allergic reaction
and was given an adrenaline shot to treat it, even
though doctors knew I had high blood pressure.That
night I suffered a stroke in my sleep. But neither my
wife Julia nor I realised until the morning, when our
son came in to see how I was he noticed that my
face was drooping and I couldn’t speak, move my
right arm or walk - I’d had an ischaemic stroke -
caused by a blood clot - on my left side of the brain
affecting my speech, my right hand and arm was
paralysed and my right leg was weak.
How has art had an impact on your recovery?
I was devastated by a number of things, the first
being that my young son was the one who discovered
that I’d had a stroke. The second was that I was
head of corporate communications at a bank and
suddenly overnight I couldn’t even communicate
my own name. And the third was that I was an artist
and I couldn’t even pick up a paint brush, let alone
paint. It absolutely rocked our world.
But art became my therapy.
I have been an artist for almost 40 years, with my
main medium being oil and acrylics on canvas and
painting with my right hand. After my stroke, my
right hand was paralysed and I still have difficulty
in holding a brush as I used to. My creative side of
the brain, however, was intact so initially I started
to paint with my left hand after my stroke, whilst I
was working on my painting again with my right
hand; through physio, determination, persistence,
and a lot of pain – both mentally and physically.
I was determined to get back to painting with my
right hand as soon as possible and over the months
and years following my stroke I have, to a degree.
Describe your art?
I went to art school where I studied illustration and
air brush which is a very tight and precise style of
painting - almost photographic. Over the years I
have explored a more contemporary approach to
capture my subjects that can vary from lifestyle to
inspirational. Therefore my artistic talents and
subjects are incredibly broad.
I find painting very therapeutic, unfortunately it’s a
constant reminder to where my talent used to be
and where I am now – pre and post stroke. Whilst
this can be frustrating, it is an outlet that allows me
to communicate how I feel.
What’s next on your artistic journey?
I’m delighted to be exhibiting at the Lombard Street
Gallery in Margate this month, where both pre and
post stroke works will be on display. I’ve held
exhibitions and sold a number of paintings plus had
commissions. My ambition now is to have a major
art exhibition in London, showing that there is life
after stroke and if you set your mind to it you can
achieve anything.
Where can we see your work?
My collection will be exhibited at the Lombard
Street Gallery, Margate 3-8 January 2020 and you
can see more on instagram @peter.rushton.artist
For more information about stroke and the support
services for survivors and carers in Kent visit
www.stroke.org.uk or call the Stroke Helpline
on 0303 3033 100.
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