EastEnders star Melanie Clark Pullen returned to Ireland and began painting as a form of pain relief during her battle with breast cancer.
The soap actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2019 and died on March 29 at the age of 46.
She had been living at home in Bangor, Wales, when she had a double mastectomy, had her ovaries and tubes removed as well as reconstructive surgery.
Before the surgery could take place, she had to undergo five gruelling sessions of radiotherapy.
Around that time, she was introduced to Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, a charity that includes counselling, art therapy, family support and more.
Melanie decided to explore her artistic side and start painting and journalling.
Speaking to Irish News in 2020, Melanie revealed she couldn't 'write at all' when she was undergoing chemotherapy.
"All my family on my mum's side are artistic but I never thought I could paint," she said.
"It turned out that it was the only way I could express myself though; through drawing and painting."
The TV star added: "I’ve gone from trying to make something really nice to playing with shapes and lines and not criticising myself. The painting and drawing gave me a way of dealing with the pain and just experiencing some of what was going on."
She went on to compliment her art therapist, Joanne Boal, for being the most 'incredible' and 'compassionate' person.
Melanie painted everything from flowers and scenery to abstract lines and portraits.
The star shared a lot of her works on her art Instagram, booksbytheseaballyholme.
The art sessions ended up 'really helping her' despite the pain she was in.
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In 2020, Melanie was given the all-clear but was unfortunately diagnosed with a brain tumour in June last year.
She posted on her website: "I was only given the all clear from cancer 18 months ago and it's a cruel blow to think that I will now be starting into some kind of treatment again and that this time it will be long term and a permanent fixture of my life."
Melanie kept her fans up to date with her journey, and posted about it as recently as March 14.
She played the role of Mary Flaherty in the long-running BBC soap EastEnders.
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