A SCOTTISH painter whose experience of personal trauma led to a flourishing career has spoken of how her painful experiences inspired her successful "new Colourist" work.

Alison McWhirter, who had never painted professionally before, was on holiday in Venice when her then fiancé contracted a rare illness which left him in a coma for months.

She lived in the Italian city and spent every day in intensive care waiting to see if he would survive.

When they returned to the UK, she began to paint to help her deal with the trauma. The resulting work, called Venice, sold in two weeks.

A serious illness suffered by her father, who died this year, inspired her to paint more, in a style following the lead of the Scottish Colourists, and she decided to become a painter full time.

Ms McWhirter, living and working in Glasgow, has had works shown by the Royal Glasgow Institute.

She also works with the Scotland Art gallery on Bath Street and the Gallery At Fifty Five in Stonehaven.

She said: "It is without question that the act of painting and being involved in this process for brief periods each day during this turbulent time helped me to stay calm and able to cope with the trauma of seeing my dear Dad suffer so greatly.

"I painted things to hand and as flowers were constantly being kindly brought to us I chose to use them as a subject."