AN ARTIST who has used her passion to overcome serious problems with her back has had her work accepted into an exhibition at a Harrogate gallery.

Caroline Hamilton, from Richmond, has a decorated clay bowl on show at the Mercer Art Gallery in its Harrogate Open Exhibition, which selects entries to be displayed until November.

Mrs Hamilton has had two major back operations to correct a 90 degree curve in her spine which saved the use of her legs – but despite this she suffers from back pain and is unable to walk far.

She said: “Art is my therapy. I did an art A-Level in 2004 and got the top grade in the country and after going on to complete an art degree I’m now doing an MA in creative products in Harrogate.

“My daughter is also an artist and is completing her art A-Levels and my husband is a keen photographer so we are all creative and I get a lot of support from all my family.

“My bowl on display in the exhibition is called Betty’s Sewing Basket, and is made from some old doilies my mum found and used clay to make a bowl with them and decorated it with buttons.

“It was just an experiment but it turned out well and my friend suggested I apply to enter it into the open exhibition – I’m thrilled it has been selected.”

Mrs Hamilton has also exhibited work at the Station, Richmond, and at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art in Sunderland.