A RETIRED construction manager is building a new career path after a major health scare drew him back to his love of art.

Recovering from a heart attack, Peter Holmes, of Stockton, was advised by doctors to take up a relaxing hobby
Now with help from tutors at Cleveland College of Art & Design, Middlesbrough, Peter, 64, has returned to the classroom to fulfil his dreams of becoming a professional artist.

“My doctor said that I needed to do something that wouldn’t tax me too much, something that I wouldn’t get worked up over, so I decided to give art a go,” said Peter, of Stockton.

“I’d always loved drawing as a child but gradually over the past 10 years my art started to become more than just a hobby.”

Enrolling on a number of short courses at The Northern School of Art Peter began to take his art more seriously and after retiring from the construction industry he signed up for a two year painting and drawing course.

“I needed some structure to my day so I applied for the Access to Higher Education course,” he said.

The Northern School of Art’s one-year access course is designed to give mature students, over the age of 19, opportunities to return to college and gain a qualification to progress to a wide range of degrees and higher education courses.

It covers a range of subject areas including drawing, textiles, 2D and 3D art, digital arts, art history and study skills and can lead to career pathways at university including fashion, illustration, interior design, fine art, applied arts, entertainment design crafts, textiles and surface design and film and TV production.

“The course has been absolutely brilliant,” said Peter. “A lot of what I was doing in an amateur way I’m now doing in a much more disciplined way.

“My confidence has grown enormously and since being here I have held my first exhibition and even sold a painting.

Peter, who also plays in a local band, is now looking to become a professional self employed artist and has set himself a target to produce 40 art works in the next four years for a pre-planned exhibition at Greenfield Arts, Newton Aycliffe in 2018.

“Originally my art started as a means to an end, a pastime, now I’m looking at a whole new life and career – I wish I’d done it years ago.”

For more information on joining the Access to HE course in Art, please call 01642 288888.