Stroke survivor's art exhibited for 100th birthday

6 December 2025

Jim ScottIn Washington

News image — David Hughes also has macular degeneration which has influenced his technique

BBC/Jim Scott David Hughes, wearing thin-rimmed silver glasses, and with a brown cardigan on top of a yellow shirt, sits down. He is holding a copy of one of favourite artworks, which shows a selection of plants against a glass bowl. In the background is the beige brick from Washington Arts Centre. — David Hughes also has macular degeneration which has influenced his technique

A man has fulfilled a dream to hold his first solo art exhibition just in time for his 100th birthday.

David Hughes, from Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, began painting watercolours after feeling lonely when his wife May died 25 years ago.

After suffering a stroke last November, he pushed ahead with plans to put his work on display in a gallery, with proceeds going to the charity of a hospital which saved his life.

A selection of his "best paintings" are being shown to the public at Washington Arts Centre until 20 December, the day after his birthday.

Handout A family photograph showing David wearing a suit, along with his late wife, May, who is holding two golden coloured balloons shaped like a love heart. In the background, there are different coloured flowers in bloom. — David Hughes says he was lonely following the death of his wife May

"When you're on your own, believe me, it's a miserable life but [this] gives me a purpose," he said.

"Every morning I get out of bed, and I'm not joking, and say 'David, no matter how many problems, enjoy it', and it does change your life."

Mr Hughes, who also has macular degeneration, a condition which can cause blurred or loss of vision, finishes his paintings through the year from his home studio.

He admitted that he "doesn't know" what exactly his technique is, but because of his diminished eyesight, each of his artworks are bright and bold.

'A gift of a human'

In November 2024, he suffered a stroke which left him temporarily unable to speak or move and he was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital.

"You can't imagine the shock because you realise it can happen to anybody, at any age," he said.

"I didn't realise, or ever thought about a stroke, until it happened to me."

After his recovery, he decided to put his work on public display, with sale of prints and cards going towards the hospital's charity STS.

Catherine Scott-Jones, the charity's fundraising manager, helped Mr Hughes open the exhibition after contacting Sunderland Culture, which runs the arts centre.

"He's definitely someone who doesn't like being told how wonderful he is, inspirational he is, but for us, he's a gift of a human," she said.

She said the money would help it continue to buy gifts for patients of all ages who are in hospital during the festive period.

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