Paintings, sculptures and photography by artists with mental health problems have gone on show to try to counter the stigma of mental illness.

Mental health charity Restore has opened the Spectrum Art Gallery in its headquarters in Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, Oxford, with work by 17 artists.

Among them is Paul Grosvenor Davies, who has fought homelessness, anxiety and agoraphobia. He said: "Helping getting this project off the ground I have really enjoyed, but I had never envisaged myself doing this."

As well as a mural, Mr Grosvenor Davies, from East Oxford, has two paintings and some sculptures in the show.

Volunteer Jackie Hruby, who helped set up the exhibition, said: "We wanted to provide opportunities for Oxfordshire-based artists who have experien- ced mental health problems and are finding it difficult to get into the gallery circuit. We are going to have a number of exhibitions throughout the year and we'll be getting in touch with other artists in Oxford to see who is out there and who would be interested in getting involved."

She added: "Many artists and creative people have had mental health problems - look at Van Gogh - so we want to break those stigmas and give people the chance to have their work exhibited.

"I think it will give people an idea of what Restore does, as well as break stigmas."

Julia Hill, employment and training worker, said: "We're enabling people with mental health problems to go back into employment, paid or voluntary, and also go on to further training."

All the works are on sale, starting at £25. Proceeds are shared between the artists and the gallery, which is open Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11am and 4.30pm, Wednesdays from 4.30pm to 8pm, and the first Saturday of the month from 11am to 5.30pm.