A PRESTWICH artist has followed her dreams and opened her debut solo exhibition in Bury.

Julie Foley, aged 55, of Woodward Road, is exhibiting her paintings at Malt Bar at the Automatic Cafe.

She gave up her job as a home carer to look after her mother full time, who was suffering from Alzheimers.

After her mother, Sheila Hilton, died in September, 2012, Julie decided to become a full-time artist.

“I looked after my mum, worked and brought up my children. I just needed to do something for myself,” she said.

“It is a great opportunity to showcase my work, as I always wanted to be an artist, but life just takes over.

“I was a psychiatric nurse at Prestwich Hospital for a number of years, then I had a family and before you know it years pass.”

Julie told how her mother, at the age of 16, worked at Martins bakery, and was offered the chance to go to Switzerland and be trained by a Swiss patissier, who was impressed by her skills.

However, because she was young, her father would not let her, and Julie says her mother’s missed opportunity and subsequent illness influenced her strive to follow her ambition.

Julie said: “She was so skilled at cake decorating people used to come from all over to have their cakes done. Seeing my mum with her illness, and her hopes and dreams disappear, I realised half of my life was gone and I wanted to pursue my dreams.

“It changed my view of the world. I was always doing paints and playing around with stuff but life just takes over, but this is a great opportunity to showcase my work.”

Julie is influenced by everyday experiences and feelings, and the process of grieving over her mother’s passing was a particularly strong emotion.

“In the middle of turmoil there would be moments of silence. I went for a walk in Prestwich Clough and just went back and did a painting to express my feelings,” she said.

“I work in the box room of my house, and we call it the Tardis because it is so small and there is so much stuff in it.”

The exhibition at the Market Street venue runs until June 10 and entry is free.

For more information visit Julie’s blog at juliefoleyart.co.uk