Mike Poole, a stroke survivor who suffered brain damage, was speaking at a Stratford Circus exhibition of artwork created by survivors of brain injury and organised by the charity Headway East London. 

The former artistic director who trained in graphic design at art college designed magazines for Tesco, Toyota and the BBC, woke on Valentine’s Day morning two years ago unable to stand up after a stroke injured his brain in his sleep. After eight months in hospital, Mike, 52, got involved in painting at the studio after returning to his home in Finchley.

Poole explained that he had never painted before, but felt a new lease of life after joining a painting session at an artist-led studio called ‘Submit to Love’.

“I really enjoy it. The classes help me express myself and be creative. It revives a talent which has been lost since my head injury." Poole said.

“It’s the first time I’ve got my hands dirty with paint and I love it. I love the tactile nature of painting which you don’t get with design.”

When Poole was asked to explain his striking work, which took about 10 hours to create, he said: “I like abstract expressionism. Mark Rothko is my inspiration. All I want to do is show colour. I’m colour blind, but those colours work for me. I like the brightness. The colours demand attention.”

Alisha Sidhu, Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College