Kevin Devonport, a former soldier, discovered his passion for painting while serving a 13-year prison sentence for heroin dealing.

After leaving the Army at 21, Devonport struggled with drug addiction and crime, culminating in his arrest in 2007.

It was during his imprisonment that he embraced art, guided by the advice from a fellow inmate: 'don't serve time, let time serve you.' Enrolling in a painting class run by Care After Combat, a charity for veterans, Devonport found his calling.

Despite growing up in Leeds with no qualifications and a history of incarceration, Devonport transformed his life, earning a degree in sociology from the Open University and eventually winning a national art award from within prison walls.

Post-release, in 2014, he faced challenges but maintained his focus, using art as an anchor.

His exhibitions, like 'Unlabelled' and 'Nothing Ordinary Here,' explore themes of identity and his military experiences, including time in Germany and Northern Ireland.

Currently, his works are displayed in London's Leadenhall Market and he manages a studio in Armley, Leeds.

Devonport also supports offenders through art tutoring, believing that his past has shaped his skill and sensibility as an artist.