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Illness inspires art collection
An artist from Croston is celebrating the success of his first solo exhibition – despite battling an inoperable brain tumour.
Hundreds of art fans have flocked to see Michael John Ashcroft's 'Out of the Darkness' collection which has gone on show at Astley Hall, Chorley.
But whilst the crowds enjoy his works of art, the dad-of two is recovering at home in Leyland after undergoing radiotherapy to shrink the tumour.
Far from feeling desperate about his situation, the 40-year-old, who is originally from Croston, remains enthusiastic about his future and the passion that was inspired by his illness.
Michael said: "They're positive about the treatment. They hope it will halt or even shrink the tumour and even keep it at bay forever."
It's not the first time Michael has battled a tumour. In fact, it's his fourth after being first diagnosed more than a decade ago.
He explains: "I was 28 when I was diagnosed with having a brain tumour.
"I had been suffering with problems with my ears for more than two years.
"I kept getting a 'whooshing' noise and it got pretty bad. I went back and forth to the doctor and I was on antibiotics, but it is a very rare condition to diagnose.
"I was referred to Preston hospital and then to Manchester for scans and that is when the doctors told me I had a brain tumour. It came as a big shock, and as it was the size of a golf ball they had to operate."
It was after that operation that Michael, who took up art as a pupil at Bishop Rawstorne High School in Croston, found his passion for the subject once again.
"It was a big operation that I had to go through and I was in intensive care." he added.
"It left me paralysed down my left side, deaf in one ear, unable to swallow and I lost my voice.
"It was whilst I was in hospital that I saw my reflection in the hospital window. The left side of my face had dropped and was scarred and the right side was perfect – it was like seeing two different faces.
"The left side was in darkness and the right side in light and I felt so strongly about my feelings that I wanted to put them down in art and that's what inspired the idea for dark and light."
Michael's collection will be on show in the Coach House at Astley Hall to October 4. To find out more, visit www.michaeljohnashcroft.com
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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