AN artistic endeavour has led to success for a woman struck down by health problems.

Angela Kruger, 54, thought her future was fixed after spending years working with figures as an accountant.

Then in 1989, her life was turned upside down when doctors found two extra bones growing down her neck, which they said would lead to paralysis.

So risky was the operation to correct the condition, that they waited until she couldn't feed or wash herself before permitting it to go ahead.

A further blow came when, in 1998, she was diagnosed with the chronic fatigue syndrome myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME.

Angela, who lives at Brecon Drive, in Redcar, said it was a bleak time in her life. "After I had my operation at South Tees Hospital, I still kept getting tired," she said. "I was mixing my sentences up and I was always exhausted.

"I went down to five stones and my legs wouldn't work, so I was stuck in a wheelchair. "It was a very traumatic time."

But despite the added heartache of losing her husband Hans to a terminal illness in 1987, Angela kept her chin up.

"I was so pleased to have the use of my arms again, even though I wasn't completely cured," she said.

It was Angela's fighting spirit that prompted her to enrol on an art course at the Redcar Further Education Centre.

She said: "I had been writing magazines for local schools and I hadn't found anyone to illustrate them, so I decided to take art lessons to do it myself.

"The teacher said I was a natural artist. Three months later, I won the Council for Further Education's calendar competition, and became Miss July for 1999."

Now, to crown her rapid rise to success, Angela has been asked to put on her first solo exhibition at Stockton's Norton Gallery.

She said: "Since becoming an artist, I've made so many friends and found a whole new life.

"I was on cloud nine when I was asked to do the exhibition."

* Angela's exhibition, which features paintings of Cher and the Pope, as well as a children's section, is on at the Norton Gallery from October 2 to November 1.