A BLACKBURN artist whose wife suffered from dementia for 18 years has paid tribute to her by putting together an exhibition of art and poetry about her life.

David Coggins today said that expressing his emotions through his writing and painting had helped him cope with his wife Moira's illness until her death in January, aged 63.

The 62-year-old, from Lammack, said he wanted to share his experiences and feelings with others and hoped that his paintings and poems for Moira would help others who were learning to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease.

He said: "This is merely a stage in the grieving process for me and one which I am still wrestling to make sense of.

"This exhibition is rooted firmly in my need to make sense of the crippling effects of Alzheimer's Disease which overtook Moira in her mid-forties."

Using many of Moira's possessions and other household items that she was ultimately unable to use, the exhibition follows Moira's journey from when she was diagnosed with the early onset of Alzheimer's Disease aged just 45 in 1987.

One painting has the couple's pots and pans and another shows Moira's handbags to symbolise losing the need for possessions.

David added: "This is not just an art exhibition it is something that I hope will benefit people and encourage those who are coping with a loved one with Alzheimer's to express themselves.

"They might not think that they can write or paint but there are hundreds of other things that people can use as a release.

"There can surely be no more devastating affliction than Alzheimer's and the sadness for their carers watching loved ones with it.

"It is as much about Moira as it is about my experience of her illness and I hope it will raise awareness about Alzheimer's."

Lights of Passage (A journey through Alzheimer's) Paintings and Poems for Moira, will be in the BBC Foyer Gallery at Radio Lancashire, Darwen Street, Blackburn, for the next two weeks. David will be there for much of the exhibition to talk to people.