A FORMER soldier who took up painting to come to terms with leaving the Army due to injuries sustained on duty abroad is set to stage his debut art exhibition.

Adrian Wright, of Glaisdale, in the heart of the North York Moors, started painting in with a £5 starter kit that was bought for him as a gift while he recovered in an army hospital.

The showcase of work at the Inspired by gallery at The Moors National Park Centre, at Danby, represents a remarkable turnaround for the father-of-five, who said he struggled with the premature end to his 15-year Army career.

He said: “It was an isolated time and I didn’t know whether I would make a full recovery and be able to go back to the Army or not.

“It was gut-wrenching and I was in a bad place, but my art is what pulled me through and helped me stay positive."

When Mr Wright returned to the UK with his family they had nowhere to live and he had no job.

However, he believes his family and doctors in England were a major factor in inspiring him to pursue a career in art and getting his life back on track.

He said: “I am self-taught and just used my own inspiration along with a few ideas from the internet.

“I am so proud of my work in the exhibition and I hope to have a promising art career ahead of me.”

He said he had developed semi-abstract and post-impressionist styles in oils, drawing inspiration from the protected area of wilderness surrounding his home.

Sally Ann Smith, curator of the Inspired by… gallery, said: “We’re delighted to host Adrian’s first exhibition, he is a self-taught and very perceptive artist.”

“This body of work is an amazing achievement, particularly as Adrian has been through a difficult transition from his life in the army.

“His paintings are a great portrayal of moors moments as they capture how the landscape changes under different skies and light.”

The exhibition runs from Thursday, October 19 until Tuesday, November 14.

Visitors can meet Adrian when he attends the gallery for a ‘Meet the Artist’ preview event on Saturday, October 21.

This year the gallery is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a variety of exhibitions.

The Inspired by… gallery focuses hosts work by artists and makers who draw their inspiration from the national park.

The gallery is open from 10am until 5pm in October, and 10.30am until 4pm in November. Entry is free.

For details, visit northyorkmoors.org.uk/inspiredby