A TEACHER, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, is holding an exhibition of his most recent work after a stranger encouraged him to take up art again.

Stewart White gave up his job as an art tutor at Alton College when he was diagnosed with the degenerative disease four years ago, and stopped producing artwork altogether.

But after encouragement from a stranger, he changed his approach to art and started to produce drawings using watercolour pencils.

His exhibition, called Re-invention, had a preview at the Willis Museum last Saturday, and visitors will be able to view it until December.

The 43-year-old father-of-two, from Brookvale, Basingstoke, has a fine arts degree and had also been working as a bronze caster for foundries when he was diagnosed with the disease in 2010. He said it was while volunteering at the Willis Museum that he met fellow artist Philip Bechervaise, who encouraged him to take up drawing again.

Mr White said: “I had been putting it off for a long time but it felt good.

“I can only really work in short bursts, and I cannot hold a pencil for long. I was really nervous to change the way I work but I have found it helpful to reinvent the way I look at art and work.”

Mr Bechervaise said he met Mr White when he popped into the museum.

He said: “It’s a bit overwhelming. To have the courage, after believing that you cannot do something, to actually pick up a pencil and make these evocative images is astonishing.

“He will say I have helped him but really he has helped me.”

The exhibition also includes some of Mr White’s past artwork, and 15 per cent of all sales will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.