A CANCER patient's paintings, inspired by his complementary therapy for his illness, will be on show at a special exhibition in Worcester.

Terry Dagley has been busy creating his masterpieces since last June, encouraged by St Richard's Hospice's creative therapist Bridget Lloyd.

Now the 68-year-old, of Broughton Green, near Droitwich, has finished 18 paintings inspired by his Reiki treatment which will be displayed in his exhibition Spirals of Time at the Cotswold Gallery, University of Worcester, from Wednesday, April 25, to Friday, May 11.

Mr Dagley said: "I was cajoled by Bridget to overcome the problems of painful joints, fatigue and the difficulty of sitting upright.

"By sitting in a recliner and balancing a board on my stomach I was once again able to paint - something I had not done since leaving college more than 45 years ago.

"The paintings are principally inspired by images and colour seen during sessions of the alternative therapy called Reiki. Other influences have been from analysing physical pains and sensations caused by my medical condition, and a lifelong interest in plants and flowers."

Ms Lloyd, who leads the art sessions with patients who visit St Richard's Day Hospice in Spetchley, said: "Terry's series of paintings gives us impressive visual evidence of the role that creativity and life-enhancing therapies play in the service offered to patients living with cancer and other life-threatening illness.

"The calibre of these paintings is exceptional, for not only someone whose particular creative skill has not previously been painting, but also impressive in that they have been executed by someone who is having to grapple with an onerous condition. "They show an acute awareness of natural form, demonstrated in abstract shapes and terrific handling of colour.

"The series also strengthens as it progresses establishing a courageous pathway as it addresses both physical and mental sensations of pain.

"Yet within these images the artist seeks an understanding via his imagination and retains clarity of thought and precision with his paintbrush." All the paintings are for sale with proceeds being donated to St Richard's. Prints will also be available.

St Richard's moved into its new £5.25 million hospice at Wildwood Drive, Worcester at the end of last year.

Fund-raisers are now hard at work generating the £3.3 million which needs to be raised this year to provide the ongoing specialist care and support.