AN ANDOVER resident opened her first art gallery exhibition this week after she discovered the hobby whilst recovering from a severe stroke. 

The former midwife who suffered from a stroke back in 2012 which left her unable to walk and talk is exhibiting her work at the Sheep Shed Gallery, in Weyhill, this month. 

Lynne Mayo told the Advertiser she discovered a love of painting whilst on holiday in France and saw an artist painting the beach.

She said: “I saw a gentleman on the beach painting the scene and he looked so peaceful that I thought I should give this ago. 

“Once I got stuck in, my friends and family said ‘that’s not half bad’ so with much encouragement from my family I kept on painting and found a real love for art.”

Andover Advertiser:

Despite never picking up a paint brush before, Lynne found that she was able to paint with both hands and developed a love and passion for art.

Before her stroke, Lynne worked as a midwife helping new parents to be bring their bundles of joy into the world. 

Her son, Tom Mayo said: “She’s probably helped thousands of people in Andover and they won’t even know it, she worked at Basingstoke hospital for years.” 

He added: “I’m so proud of how far she has come, she has completely turned her life around from something that many people would have given up after.”

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Lynne suffered from the stroke at the age of 64 but with the help of Winchester Stroke team, her family and friends she learnt to walk and talk again despite loosing all feeling in the right side of her body. 

She said: “I was a qualified midwife, a healthy person who enjoyed running with amazing family and friends without a care in the world. Then my life changed.

“The problem with a stroke is you never know where it’s going to affect you, it’s very much a waiting game.

Throughout her recovery, Lynne developed epilepsy as a result of the stroke which extended her recovery time by another few months.

Lynne will be donating some of the proceeds from each sale to charities to help other stroke victims recover.

The exhibition will be shown at the Sheep Shed Gallery, in Weyhill, from February 19 to February 29, between 10am and 4pm.

Her artwork will be available for sale after the exhibition via her website at www.strokeart.co.uk.