An art exhibition produced by soldiers and veterans in Colchester has been unveiled at the House of Commons.

The drawing project called Facing – recovering is lead by Firstsite’s coordinating artist Jevan Watkins Jones, alongside the Chavasse VC House recovery centre and Firstsite’s experimental communities programme, which is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

A number of men share their personal stories and experience of injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through drawing, video and words in the exhibition.

The opening in Parliament was hosted by Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell who was joined by participating veterans and artists, Firstsite director Matthew Rowe, Secretary of State for culture media and Sport Sajid Javid and Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois.

Mr Rowe said: “I would like to thank Sir Bob Russell for hosting this event and bringing this ground-breaking exhibition to a wider audience, and for his support of Firstsite and its community work.

“Facing – recovering is a poignant and groundbreaking piece of work and we are delighted ministers and MPs at the House of Commons have come along to visit.”