Being given a terminal cancer diagnosis 6 years ago changed my life. I had a huge surgery and chemo. I had a strong urge , if I was going to die, I wanted to leave something behind for my family to remember me by. I took up painting the ocean and haven't looked back. The ocean is unstoppable just like me. I was given 6 months to live. That has turned into 6 years and I'm still cancer free. I now look to infinity and beyond!

My friend has MND! He loved his dog more than anything in the world. His dog died and his heart was broken! In his 50's he meet up with my sister, fell madly in love and his heart mended . To infinity "everlasting love perhaps ... I can only hope" Beyond is "a white bellied sea eagle soaring across the ocean "

When considering life beyond the limitations of debilitating illnesses I was reminded of an interview with a man with ALS. In episode #88 of the podcast Reply All, researcher Sruthi Pinnamani spoke to Eric Valor, who was completely paralysed aside from his eyes in 2008. He spoke about how losing mobility focused his sense of self saying “…the essence of my being— that which makes me a person— is my mind, not my body.” This inspired me to represent the infinite possibilities within the mind and the freedom found there.

My piece is representative of the light at the end of the tunnel, and symbolises the presence of hope when your head feels like it's underwater. It shows that progress is made through time and only through accepting our past and present self can we achieve a better future.

'Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched in some way so that your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there' My sister pregnant at the time gave me this quote months before she was diagnosed with cancer. She gave birth to a beautiful daughter but sadly lost her battle five months later.

This is my late Grandfather, Ken Owen. Pop passed away in 2005 after enduring Motor Neurone Disease for longer than predicted. A skilled Craftsman, Pop used his creative talents to adapt to the increasing everyday challenges his illness presented. As his motor skills decreased, painting and drawing became his remaining creative outlet before his heart inevitably stopped. Pop lived a full life, I never saw him dwell on the hand he was dealt. He remains an inspiration and key influence in my life.