TWO years ago art student Nicola Berry broke her neck and suffered serious nerve damage to her shoulder and arm after falling from a wall.

Now after completing her fine art degree, she is hoping to help others use art to aid their recovery - and was among the artists showing their work at the graduate show at the University of Wales, Newport.

Miss Berry, 32, was seven months into her Fine Art degree when she fell from a four-foot wall. As she fell, she flipped over wrenching her shoulder, causing serious nerve and muscle damage, as well as fracturing her neck.

Miss Berry, from High Cross, thought about giving up university, but decided she wanted to follow her dream and battled through months of physiotherapy and treatment to regain the use of her arm.

She said: “It would’ve been easier and less painful to quit uni, but art is what I’d always wanted to do. My injury has made me more positive and determined to do something with my art.

“When I was going through the aftermath of my accident, art was the only thing that helped pull me through and I want to bring art to other people who need it.”

Miss Berry has set up her own charity, Works of Heart, in a bid to help others use art as a form of therapy. She is hoping to sell her artwork and use the proceeds to buy art bags and supplies to give to hospitals for patients to use.

Last Friday, Miss Berry’s work took pride of place at the university's school of art, media and design graduate show.

The annual event, at the Caerleon campus, opened on Friday night showcasing an array of work including photography, graphics, animation and fine art, with contemporary installations, traditional print photography and painting.

Miss Berry’s work focused on using reclaimed instruments decorated with prints to show that anything can be made into art.

She said: “The accident has confined me a lot in what I can do, because I haven’t got much power in my arm. The biggest problem was in my arm and shoulder and I still have regular appointments with the GP and take medication.

“My art has really helped me through a difficult time and I’m even more determined to do something to help others.”

Miss Berry is taking a year out to build up her charity, before studying for a masters degree in art psychotherapy, with the ultimate goal of becoming an art therapist.