Injured artist Craig re-learns to paint - with his left hand

But his love of painting persuaded him to pick up a brush in his left hand – and learn all over again how to sketch and add colour to canvas.

The 48-year-old from Brownhills has not looked back since and is about to launch his first ever art exhibition, with pictures he painted using his left hand following the accident.

He said it was never an option to give up on his art after his horror fall.

"My painting was put on hold after the accident but I decided it was not going to hold me back," he said.

"If I'd have smashed up both my arms I probably would have put the brush in my mouth and painted like that.

"It has amazed me what I've managed to achieve. It shows if your brain is willing and you put your mind to it you can do it.

"It was strange at first drawing with my left hand but I've learned to adapt. I can't elevate my right arm which is something you need to do when drawing."

Mr Evans fell from a ladder three years ago at his mother's house.

"My mum went to Spain with her partner," he continued. "I went to her house to do some painting. I was on the ladder and I slipped somehow.

"Gravity took me down and I went down like a pack of cards. I extended my arm out as you do and it smashed on the kitchen sink. It came straight out the socket and was pretty much hanging off. It was like something out of a horror movie.

"I waited three hours for a paramedic to come and I was given the full legal requirement of morphine but it didn't touch the pain."

Mr Evans was taken to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield where he was treated but shortly afterwards he developed frozen shoulder, a condition which leads to stiffness in the arm. It was then that he started drawing and painting with his left arm instead of his right.

His love of art started when he was just a small boy.

"My father was a decorator and used to take me out on jobs with him," he added. "I remember he did a sketch once on a piece of paper. I felt something inside me go 'wow.' For the rest of the day I tried to copy it. As time went on I would play around with paints and oils.

"I used to do cartoons as a child."

Birmingham-born Mr Evans was 14-years-old when he sold his first piece of artwork to his friend's mother for £10 and studied art for a year at Sutton Coldfield College.

Painting in his spare time took a back seat when he landed a job in the print trade, where he worked for 30 years. But three years ago he gave up his job and he and fiancée Christine, aged 48, became full-time foster parents.

During his spare time looking after youngsters Mr Evans re-kindled his love of painting and was able to spend more time drawing.

The exhibition at Chasewater Innovation Centre near Brownhills includes landscapes and autumnal scenes. He is also including a handful of stunning pictures of Flamenco dancers.

The show runs from February 23 until March 20 and will feature around 30 of Mr Evans's acrylic paintings priced between £50 and £200.