An 82-year-old care home resident who draws every day will now share his artwork in an exhibition at the home.
Douglas Jardine, who lives at St Mark's Care Home in Deckham, Gateshead, has been creating art since he was a boy. Now the carers at the home encourage his passion, bringing him photos for inspiration so that he can do drawings for them.
Douglas wanted to be an artist from the age of eight, however he became a plumber in order to make money but he continued his art as a hobby.
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Art has been a creative outlet for Douglas for almost 75 years, and he has spoken about how he became interested in it, as well as why he still enjoys creating art to this day.
He said: "I was in Newcastle with my dad when I was eight years old, and I saw a man drawing on the ground with charcoal and pastels. Straight away I said to my dad that I want to be an artist and that night when I came back home, I got my pencils out and started to draw every day.
"Doing art makes me feel good, because I enjoy making things for people such as portraits, as well as doing animals like birds and horses, and motorbikes, as this is what I am the best at drawing.
"I'm really looking forward to my art exhibition and hopefully all the staff are too. I want to buy them all some wine as my dad taught me to always think of others rather than myself."
Leanne Bishop is the activities coordinator at St Mark's Care Home, says she is looking forward to the upcoming exhibition.
She said: "Douglas is such a special, lovely person who is so spiritual and he gives me a warm feeling inside when I speak to him. He is so kind in the way that he is happy to do art for all of the staff, it is clear to see this is such a huge passion of his.
"We are trying to get the exhibition sorted for the 26th of April and we are pulling out all of the stops. We have ordered a red carpet and getting easels to display Douglas' work through the corridors, and he is also wearing a suit and a bow tie. It is amazing to be able to give him such a special day after the incredible life that he has had."
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