Bill, who has cerebral palsy, has taken art classes for nearly twenty years and has become a well-known local artist, with paintings hanging in Milton Keynes General Hospital as well as several sent overseas to Canada, Australia and elsewhere in Europe.

He said that his art is very important to him. "Art should brighten peoples' lives, both for those who paint and those who enjoy the finished work. I hope that my paintings will brighten the lives of many people and encourage those who think they cannot do anything to try to develop something to do for themselves."

ExtraCare staff including Village Manager Steve Neal and Activities Facilitator Jo Wilson arranged a buffet for guests attending the exhibition, many of whom were Bill's friends from outside the village.

Bill also invited a good friend, cricket journalist and former president of the Marylebone Cricket Club Christopher Martin-Jenkins, along to the event to speak, and many residents came along to ask questions about the sport.

He said: "I have one of Bill's paintings in my study, where I see it almost every day, and it's a great reminder of our long friendship." The two have known each other since the mid 1970s, and share a deep love of cricket.

Picture: Bill with some of his paintings.

See more pictures on Flickr!

Have you seen any of Bill's paintings? Tell us what you think on Facebook!

For further information, please contact:

Lucy Henson, PR officer
0789 105 3062
lucy.henson@extracare.org.uk