ALONGSIDE John McDermott's work will be exhibited paintings by Raya Herzig, a child survivor of wartime camps in Poland who was liberated by British troops.

John said: "Her work is different in presentation to mine, but she saw my work and understood immediately what it was about. People will see a huge strength of human spirit in her work. She will tell you she is not defined by her experiences – she does what she does not because of Hitler, but despite him."

People can buy John and Raya's work, and both will donate a large percentage of sales to the PTSD charities.

"It is not about selling paintings though," John says. "It is not a commercial exhibition, more a public awareness exhibition. I will be happy if they come away thinking they have seen something memorable which allows them to ask questions raised by what they have seen.

"It is not all just about war and these dark, deep subjects — it is very life-affirming. I suppose it is the triumph of the spirit over trauma, adversity and all the horrors we have faced. There is that spark and the element of hope which carries on despite everything. It has to."

The free exhibition is at Exeter Castle, June 25 to July 4. See www.aftermathptsd.co.uk