For any cancer sufferer, the emotions that come with your battle are often hard to explain.
But one exhibition in the north-east aims to expose every feeling that a diagnosis brings.
The Breathless Breastless Project – which opens today in Aberdeen – showcases art work from a group of 12 cancer sufferers and professional artists who have been affected by the disease in some way.
Founder of the project, Louise Stedman, from Aberdeen, dreamed up the idea following her own diagnosis in 2012.
She wanted to capture the turbulent journey that comes with being told you have cancer, and believed that transforming feelings into art work was the ideal way.
But not being an artist herself, she called on people from the north-east to sign up and make her vision a reality.
From local creatives to established artists from across the UK who have either battled the disease or watched a loved one fight it, Mrs Stedman said she was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of everyone who wanted to share their story.
“A cancer diagnosis was a whole new challenge and brought me a whole new learning curve,” she said.
“I realised how little I knew about it and how little those around me know about the disease.
“Many people face ongoing issues with self-esteem, body image, fear and relationships long after treatment is over and I wanted to try to get across some of the journey and tell the real story.”
From ceramics and photography to videos and paintings, every piece of artwork in the exhibition depicts a different stage of the cancer process – from what people did to compensate when they lost their hair to the feeling of hopelessness they endured when they were first diagnosed.
It also features the journey of one man, Doug Harper, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and a woman, Hannah Foxley, who died last month before she had the chance to see everything come together.
Mrs Stedman said she did not want the exhibition to shock or upset, but to show how far all the artists had come and tell people that no one ever has to be alone.
She hopes other parts of the country will also want to showcase their work.
“I wanted to create an exhibition that will promote learning and conversation,” she said.
“I can’t believe that an idea that was in my head is now a reality and I am extremely proud of what we have created.”
The exhibition will run at the 17 creative hub, Belmont Street, until July 13. There will be a second chance to view it at the Aberdeen Arts Centre, King Street, in September.