Ref. 29644-09A TALENTED Swindon artist left brain damaged after a crash on his honeymoon is looking for a studio to create colourful masterpieces.

Handrew Morgan, 42, who lives in Bowleymead, Eldene, with wife Liz, 31, cheated death in 2000 when he was flung from a motorbike in Thailand.

He was in a coma for a month and in hospital for 18 months and the accident wiped out all his memories of his wedding.

Now Handrew, who has been told that he will never work again, is hoping art will help him put his traumatic experiences behind him.

But with 4,000 paintings he is struggling to find space for them all.

Now he has got his eye on Radnor Street Cemetery, just off the town centre.

In the middle is a small boarded-up chapel that has been vacant for years.

"It would be an ideal place for me to do my painting and store some paintings," he said. "It's so quiet and peaceful I can just sit down and paint.

"If nobody is using it or has any plans for it I would like to use it as a studio."

The artist is getting attention from big names in the art world, with several London galleries having already expressed an interested in his work.

The Kaleidoscope gallery in north London has snapped up three paintings.

He said: "I've been going to the chapel for about 10 months and, on several occasions, people have come up to me and asked me why I don't apply to use the chapel.

"My hobby is helping me to regain my memory."

Liz said all her husband talks about is art.

"Art is his life he loves it," she said.

"He's done some brilliant pieces, including a life-size portrait of Freddie Mercury, which art experts have valued at £200."

Swindon Council owns the chapel and Coun Martin Wiltshire (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said he would look into the matter to see if it could be leased to Handrew.

He said: "It sounds like a jolly good idea to me and I will do all I can to find out more.

"I am certainly in favour of opening up old buildings to the public and putting them to good use.

"There are plenty of people out there who can make use of old structures such as this.

From a historical perspective, if we don't do this, we stand to allow them to go to waste."

Handrew has several paintings for sale. For details call Liz on 07782 146610.

The pictures can be viewed by visiting the website www.handrew.com

Kevin Shoesmith