AN ARTIST from Flintshire left paralysed from the neck down has beaten the odds to keep up her beloved hobby.

Hayley Davies, from Buckley, lost the use of her hands after she was struck down with a neurological condition.

Her love of painting has endured despite her illness and now Hayley uses paintbrushes in her mouth to create art.

“I have been disabled for a long time and have been painting by mouth for the last few years,” she said.

“For some weird reason, I paint better with my mouth than I did with my hands.

“I’m getting better every day.”

Hayley, who lives with her husband and 18-year-old son, enjoys painting wildlife and flowers.

“When I lost the use of everything I didn’t want to just sit down and do nothing,” she said.

“So it just came to me. I managed to put a brush in my mouth and told myself I could do it and because I could, I did it more and more.

“Now I paint about three hours a week. I like to go out and about to look at the scenery. It makes me look at things in a different way.”

At least 10 of Hayley’s favourite paintings will now feature in exhibition at Buckley Library.

Paintings in the April exhibition will start from around £25 each.

For more information call Buckley Library on 01244 549210.