A BLIND military veteran from Malvern who has developed a passion for art since losing his sight has attended the opening of a special art exhibition that features his work.

William Turner, 66, is exhibiting his work alongside other blind veterans at the Art – Life Beyond Sight Loss exhibition which opened its doors to the public on Saturday.

The exhibition, at St George’s Hall in Liverpool, includes paintings, woodwork and ceramics produced by a number of blind veterans who have been trained in new techniques bt the charity Blind Veterans UK.

After leaving school aged 15, Mr Turner joined the Royal Navy, where he served as a radar operator, a diver, in a helicopter air crew and as a flying and diving instructor.

He served in special forces from 1976 to 1983, including tours of Northern Ireland and the Falklands, before retiring rom the services as a corporal.

He then spent time working for the fire services and police, including tours of Bosnia and Kosovo as part of a UN drug enforcement team, before sailing solo around the world.

It was during this voyage that ge noticed problems with his eyesight, diagnosed as glaucoma, which by 2008 had robbed him of his sight.

He said: “Seeking Blind Veterans UK’s support has been the best thing that could have happened to me. I have carried my easel up the Malvern Hills just to sit there and paint and I often find myself getting carried away and painting on A4 paper into the early hours of the morning.”

Despite not having painted since school, Mr Turner counts the support offered by Blind Veterans UK as integral to his ability to adjust to life with sight loss in such creative fashion. He said: “The staff and volunteers at the charity’s Llandudno centre are very positive and friendly and their can-do attitude is infectious. The art bug has definitely bitten.”

The exhibition in Liverpool is open to the public until Sunday, January 29.