But he didn’t find it consoling at the time, losing a job he had held for almost three decades.

John developed multiple sclerosis at age 41 and was considered an occupational health and safety risk at his workplace.

And, because of his diagnosis nine years ago, the world, as he knew it, changed.

Good at art since a schoolboy, John dabbled in various forms over the years, but found it hard to pursue as an adult, while forging a career and building a family.

“But once I was diagnosed with MS things were different,” he said.

Forced to rethink his activities and abilities, John re-discovered his love of art.

He and his partner moved to Spalding six years ago, where he began to seriously pursue pyrography – the art of burning images into wood.

It’s an unforgiving medium, with no options for rubbing out mistakes. At the moment his “canvas” is plywood, but he is about to move onto leather, because its lack of grain produces a more refined end product.

Each piece takes between 40 and 50 hours to complete – which appeals to John, as it is time consuming, taking the focus away from his illness, and is great mental therapy.

He has honed his skills by observation, practice, and trial and error, and in the future would love to pass on what he knows to others, by giving them the chance to “have a go”.

John has lost count of the pieces of work he has given away over the years, but has now gained the confidence to develop a gallery and workshop in the town.

He exhibited in the South Australian Living Artists Festival for the first time in 2008, at Salt’n’Vines Restaurant, Clare and will be showing at two venues this year – at Salt’n’Vines and at Gally’s Meeting House in Farrell Flat.

Last year’s exposure in the SALA festival saw John accept some commissions for his work, and he hopes to attract ongoing interest for his pieces.