About the Cover Artist

Peter W. Rushton, born and raised in Swansea, South Wales, UK, is never without a creative thought—constantly inspired by his surroundings. Since leaving art school, Peter’s professional career and love of painting and art have run in parallel. He has been a Creative Director for leading international advertising agencies while still painting for personal enjoyment and on commission. Although Peter most loves oils and acrylics, his talent allows him to explore many different media and a wide variety of styles from airbrush illustration (before digital formats became prominent in that world) to contemporary and abstract works, depending on mood and other influences.

Sadly, in 2014, Peter had a left-sided ischemic stroke that paralyzed his painting hand and arm (the right) and left him with aphasia. With great determination and will, Peter started painting again with his left hand while undergoing intense physical and speech therapy. He began preparing for a public art exhibition just 8 months after his stroke and eventually displayed over 20 equally successful pre- and poststroke pieces.

Peter is proud to have the art of maturity, reflecting not just age and 4 decades of professional painting but also the 6 years of stroke recovery he sees as a life journey in itself. The slightly rusting Door Hinge, on the front cover and below, represents the opening and closing of the different chapters of Peter’s life.

Peter says, “During my years in London, I exhibited and was a critic at private shows, and exposure to various subjects and styles significantly affected my creative approach today. My influences are everything I see, feel, and experience, but I’ve also always loved the unexpected rhythm of life—dark and light and how it can be represented. The artist I most admire is Salvador Dali, who I see as a a genius before his time in conceptual thinking and technique. I grew up wanting to express art in various ways, allowing the subject matter to dictate the technique.

People ask if I have fully recovered and use my original painting hand now. Instead, I have accepted I will never fully recover yet have embraced a new normal. I still experience mild aphasia and find few people understand it, which can be frustrating. I am, however, back to using my right hand, although I still can’t feel the tips of my fingers, which makes fine motor skills difficult. I have adapted my painting skills accordingly, including how I hold the brush and using more of a visualization technique."

Peter’s work can be seen on Instagram @peter.rushton.artist and he can be contacted at: pwr01@hotmail.com.