Exhibition of work by NUA students at Bluey Bluey in Norwich

Richard Walsh, 45, discovered his passion and talent for photography when he was being helped by Norwich-based charity The Matthew Project.

Richard was part of the organisation's Recovery Support Programme when he discovered the therapeutic benefits of photography through the Next Steps project.

The work of NUA first-year fine art student Eadie Woollard will be on show at Bluey Bluey in May (Image: Eadie Woollard)The work of NUA first-year fine art student Frankie Matthes Thompson will be on show at Bluey Bluey in May (Image: Frankie Matthes Thompson)

He recalls: "I went to my first session and one of the instructors was looking at the photos I’d taken and said 'you really have a good eye for this'."

After the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in 2020, Richard saved up to buy a second-hand camera and spent much of lockdown learning about his new craft via Youtube.

Since then he has started studying for a photography degree at Norwich University of the Arts  (NUA) and is holding an exhibition next month.

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This will showcase a collaboration of work from NUA students at St Augustines Street art gallery Bluey Bluey.

The work of NUA first-year fine art student Gem Fisher will be on show at Bluey Bluey in May (Image: Gem Fisher)The work of NUA photography student Richard Walsh will be on show at Bluey Bluey in May (Image: Richard Walsh)

Richard is passionate about promoting mental health support for personal reasons too, having lost friends to suicide and even his sister, Katie.

"I knew she always wanted me to get help with my addictions and turn my life around," said Richard.

"She is my inspiration for wanting to create awareness and break down stigmas of mental health."

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Richard, a father-of-three who grew up in Wymondham, has spoken previously about getting involved in drugs aged around 14 when he started smoking cannabis on the bus to college in Norwich, before escalating to ecstasy, cocaine and heroin.

Richard Walsh is studying photography at Norwich University of the Arts (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

Now he is planning to start a photography support group this summer at The Matthew Project, like the one which inspired his success, called Refocus.

The exhibition is being held at Bluey Bluey gallery between May 5 and 8.