"THERE had to be a light at the end of the tunnel."

Those of the words of a former Warrington Collegiate employee who has turned her life around in the space of a year after being made redundant following 14 years as an art tutor.

Gail Stubbings says she decided to 'follow her heart' and inject her passion for art to make a 'difference to the wider community'.

The 51-year-old, from Orford, set up Bloomingart and has gone from sessions with two children to more than 30 pupils young and old across four classes.

She added: "Fairfield and Howley Community Project have greeted me with open arms and it’s amazing seeing how quickly individual talents have grown.

"The adult class has become not only an art class but an art collective too and they have been immensely supportive.

"I’ve always loved teaching, which is funny as I started my days as a secretary working for Dave Cox, who sadly passed away in 2012.

"He saw something in me and said 'You need to be in the classroom'.

"I hope he’s looking down on what he’s helped happened as he inspired so many people within college."

After funding herself for four months, Gail gained a grant from local area funding and is now hoping to do some community art with Orford residents through the Orford Community Hub on Festival Avenue.

She added: "People going the extra mile has really helped Bloomingart on it’s way and I couldn’t have done it without them.

"What I have learned is that there are some wonderful, genuine and very kind people in Warrington and it just shows what you can do in less than a year, even at the age of 50, with the support of amazing family, friends and students giving you a helping hand."

Gail, who has also been nominated to attend the volunteer star awards celebration next month, is now looking forward to Bloomingart's first exhibition after setting up her own studio at the Pyramid Centre.

Open to the public on June 6, The Best of Northern Art centre on Bridge Street, run by the Macintyre charity, will be hosting the event called 'The changing faces of Warrington'.

The group will also be running a free BBC 'Get Creative Day' at the Pyramid on August 13 from 11am to 3pm for families.

For more information, email gail@bloomingart.org.uk.