The Yorkshire Coast artist painting from a shipping container near Withernsea

He has gone on to sell many paintings with money going to the charities he supports.

Roy had gone to see a doctor in January 1993 as he was suffering with pain when swallowing. He was sent for an endoscopy for a suspected ulcer or hernia - and was shocked to learn the results showed a malignant tumour in his oesophagus.

“I couldn't believe it as I was only 44 and in good health” says Roy, who was born in Leeds in 1948.

“I was placed under the care of Mr Nigel Saunders, consultant thoracic surgeon, at Killingbeck Hospital, who explained the prognosis and the surgery I would need. At the time the hospital was trialling a new surgery whereby the tumour and oesophagus would be removed and replaced by extending the stomach to the throat. The chances of survival with this new procedure far outweighed the previous, although the risks were great, and the chances only 3%, of which 75% of patients would not survive longer than five years.”

Despite accidentally cutting his vocal chord, the procedure was successful and this May, Roy celebrated 30 years post op.

During his recovery he was supported by his family with his brother Joe visiting every day in hospital, while also looking after Roy’s garden at home. Macmillan nurses also visited, helping him to come to terms with my illness.

“After the operation I had lost a lot of weight and was very weak, but I decided that I needed to fight this terrible disease if I was to see my daughter grow up. At Christmas 1994 I started to draw and paint as therapy - I painted a tiger and Joe was so impressed he asked me to paint his dog, which led to painting pets for friends, and I donated the proceeds to the RSPCA.”

Roy returned to hospital at the Leeds General Infirmary for further surgery as he was suffering with gastrointestinal problems. “I had survived the two year prognosis, and was now gaining weight, and continued to paint. My surgeon, Mr Saunders, requested that I paint Killingbeck hospital as it was scheduled to be demolished, and when completed the painting was hung in the Jubilee Wing. It has since been published by Art UK in a book of paintings in public buildings.”

Roy was starting to receive attention for his paintings and has raised money for charity through their sales. The then Chairman of the Oesophageal Patients Association, David Kirby OBE, arranged an exhibition of his paintings in Solihull. At this exhibition Tom Pyne C.E.O of London and Manchester Assurance presented a cheque for £1,000 to Professor Alan Casson who was doing research into Oesophageal Cancer at Warwick University - the cheque was for a painting Roy had given to Tom of the company head office in Exeter, in thanks for his help during his recovery. The Mayor and Mayoress of Solihull were also at the exhibition, and asked to use one of his paintings for their official Christmas card. The same painting was printed as a Limited Edition and has subsequently raised thousands of pounds for the OPA.

Roy was asked to paint the National Grid office building at Colton, Leeds, for the director who was retiring. “He was so pleased with it that he took it with him to Brazil, and commissioned a second painting which is hung in the boardroom, and a total of £1000 was donated to the OPA.”

Over the years Roy has raised money for various other charities including the RSPCA, Parkinsons UK, Yorkshire Heart Foundation, Help the Aged, Diabetes Care, Help for Heroes, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Cats Protection League, St. Gemma's Hospice and Sue Ryder Hospice.

Regular holidays on the East Coast led Roy to finding the ideal place for his art studio - a converted shipping container at Waxholme Trading Park, Withernsea. Here there are a number of containers turned into hobby workshops, as well as for use by various businesses, and storage.

“I have had my walls painted white to reflect the light, and use various lamps with daylight bulbs. The storage container has a double glazed front and I position my easel near the door so I get natural light on sunny days. It is a comfortable environment to continue my love of painting, which along with the surgeon's skills saved my life.

“My latest painting for charity is a painting of a gorilla entitled “Face to Face with Nature” which was inspired by an artist called John Seerey Lester who gave me written permission to reproduce his original painting, and he is acknowledged as such on the painting.

“The sale of this painting, along with other demonstrations and fundraising events has meant that in the last couple of years I have raised more than £2,700 for Macmillan Cancer Support.”

Roy is also an instructor in the style popularised on TV by the American artist Bob Ross and teaches his technique at workshops that he runs in his studio. He regularly takes commissions, mostly for pet portraits, the proceeds going to charity, and also towards demonstrations where the painting is raffled off, again for charity.

To contact Roy email [email protected]