Some people are daunted by adversity and wither in its glare; others take the attitude that setbacks exist to be negotiated.
But few individuals decide to respond to being diagnosed with not one, but two tumours by creating artworks, embarking on European sojourns, and then bestowing the fruits of their labours to a cancer charity.
However, that has been the way forward adopted by north-east stalwart, Alison Chandler, who works with third sector organisation ACVO in Aberdeen, when she’s not dabbling in her studio at home.
Ms Chandler is clearly one of life’s redoubtable characters and seems determined to keep accentuating the positive, while raising funds for CLAN Cancer Support.
Next month, from July 1-25, the organisation will be staging an exhibition of 24 of her works at CLAN House and it promises to be a unique event.
She said: “I painted my way through recovery from emergency surgery in November 2016 as I waited to be strong enough for chemotherapy.
“My mother said she thought I would be okay as I had a ‘strong core’, so I decided to paint apples! If I focused on my inner strength by painting, it took my mind off fear.
“I painted at home in Johnshaven and when I went into Ward 114 at ARI every fortnight for 16 cycles of chemo. I created a picture every day as I thought about being far more than a patient.
“Day 8’ – which was produced on the eighth day of the first cycle of chemo – shows my apple core surrounded by a river of loving hands representing friends, family and community.
“Before I became ill, I walked on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain and, in October 2018, I was sufficiently recovered to return there and come back with a head full of images and dreams.
“The experiences of my pilgrimages in 2015 and last year run through all my work because it taught me that all we can do is take one step after another.
“I was persuaded by friends to develop the Way Through Project which creates exhibitions at community venues such as CLAN so that my work can do as much good as possible.
“That can be whether stimulating conversations, challenging misconceptions or inspiring other people going through hard times of all sorts.
“The Way Through Project has so far involved film, music, poetry, youthwork and street art and you can find out more at www.waythroughart.com.
“I am delighted to be donating a dozen of my earlier pictures to CLAN and exhibiting more recent work for sale during July with 20% of proceeds going to support the charity.
“I will also be holding two Meet the Artists events on the morning of Saturday, July 6 and evening of Thursday, July 25, so I’m looking forward to meeting anyone who wants to pop in. “