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Artist Peter Rushton has fought back and picked up a brush with his favoured fingers and produced a knock-out piece of work two years after being struck down by a stroke which left him partly paralysed and unable to use his right hand, the one he used to paint with.
He was commissioned to paint a portrait of a fighter by his speech therapist as a present for her boyfriend who has just opened a gym and boxing facility on the island.
Determined to use his creative talents, he mastered using his left hand to sketch and paint a new collection for an exhibition just five weeks after leaving hospital, as reported in GulfWeekly, but was determined to get back with the perfect combination.
“Trying to get the movement back in my right hand has been a slow process,” he said. “I go to the gym on a daily basis and make sure that I use my right hand on the apparatus.
“To be honest, my hand still isn’t how it used to be and I have a problem with fine motor skills such as eating with chopsticks, doing up buttons, tying shoe laces and writing with a normal pen, however, my mind is very connected with my hand.
“The latest piece of artwork was a commission by my speech therapist Kelly Schuster, she has been the back-bone to my speech recovery. Her boyfriend, Tariq, has recently opening a gym and she thought it would a good to have a piece as inspiration to the members.
“I’m pleased with the result because I thought it had a lot of dynamism without being overly fussy.”
Peter, 58, head of corporate communications at Kuwait Finance House (Bahrain), is married to Julia, a marketing strategist. They live in Saar with their son, Digby, 13, who attends St Christopher’s School.
Canadian expat Kelly, 29, who lives in Budaiya and runs a private practice in Um Al Hassam, was delighted with the finished fighter in the frame, as was Tariq Abdulrahman, 31, founder and head boxing trainer of Lift Strength and Conditioning Centre, in Janibiya.
Kelly said: “I began working with Peter very shortly after his stroke. Needless to say, I met Peter at probably one of the worst times in his life, and he was still incredibly upbeat, charming and optimistic.
“It is these qualities, along with a LOT of hard work on his part - and the support of his amazing family - that allowed him to make such amazing progress.
“Although his speech is still not exactly as it once was, he is now able to communicate clearly with those around him and is back at work, running conferences and giving presentations!
“Over the course of his treatment, I discovered his phenomenal talent for painting and often admired the beautiful pieces he had up in his home. In fact, for my birthday one year, Tariq even bought me one of Peter’s paintings as he knew how much I loved his work. That’s why, when the gym was getting ready to open, I thought of Peter and asked him if he would be willing to paint a portrait to hang behind the reception desk.
“I didn’t know exactly what to expect but I never could have imagined it would turn out as amazing as it did!
Equally impressed Tariq, who boasts Bahraini and Scottish roots and was born in Awali, has placed the gift at the entrance of the gym and home of Bahrain Boxing Club.
“My first thought was how powerful I felt the painting was,” he said. “It immediately communicated power and pugnacity to me which are, amongst other characteristics, synonymous with boxing clubs.
“We have hung the painting behind reception so the first thing new or existing customers see is this wonderful piece of art that has been created locally.”
Peter who hails from the Welsh city of Swansea has been in Bahrain for 14 years and originally came out to join a newly-formed advertising and marketing agency as creative director. He had staged successful art shows in the UK before his move to the Middle East and was planning to stage his first exhibition in Bahrain after the summer holidays before he suffered his stroke.
Peter studied Industrial & Fine Art at Swansea University and his successful business career, happy family life and blossoming plans to stage the art show were suddenly dealt a massive blow. But, showing true grit, he remains defiant in adversity and is determined to work on his health issues, remain confident and creative and inspire art lovers across the kingdom.
“I would like to thank my wife, Julia, for her caring support and her fair but firm attitude and also my son, Digby, for his patience and for not getting too embarrassed by his dad’s speech disability!” he said.
“After a lot of research about stroke victims, one of the major symptoms is depression and frustration, for losing the person that one used to be, and I can vouch for this.
“It is too easy for people who suffer a stroke to lose the sense of purpose and life’s direction. Basically, I was lucky with the symptoms I have and I am doing my best to reach a place that I am comfortable with.
“My message to all those who have suffered a stroke is to add gratitude and thanks for those people who care about you, they may appear to be nagging at you but they are only trying to help you along a very difficult journey.
“Also, never give up - the body and the mind are an amazing thing and you can retrain both - it just takes time, perseverance and encouragement from loved ones.”
