Sometimes you just can't put your agony into words.

"How badly does it hurt?" is a question with no adequate answer for many victims of chronic pain.

Now, sufferers are trying a new way of expressing how they feel - by creating works of art.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been running a series of workshops in which Huddersfield artist Cate Clarke has been helping people share their experience of pain and design

artwork in an attempt to depict their

suffering.

Gill Fletcher, senior physiotherapist for chronic pain management at St Luke's Hospital, said: "The problem with pain is that you can't see it.

"We rely on the patients to tell us how they feel but it is often very hard to describe the pain they are in. Using art, we can learn more about sufferers and how to look at ways to help them cope better with life."

Pain specialist Frances Cole is part of the Bradford chronic pain rehabilitation team. She said: "Nearly 30 per cent of people in West Yorkshire suffer with chronic or long-term pain.

"This common symptom and invisible experience is difficult to explain to family, friends, doctors and health staff.

"Images explain the profound, distressing impact of long-term pain on the person and their body."

Lorna Vernon, 32, of Bradford, took part in the workshops at the rehabilitation department, Horton Park medical centre.

She said: "I think they should have a lot more workshops like this. It's part of the healing process even though you can't measure the effects."

Alwyn Taylor, 52, of Shipley suffers from severe nerve pain. He said: "It sounds daft but, although you're trying to draw your pain, it does take your mind off it."

Roberta Brook, 52, travelled from Huddersfield to attend the classes. She said this was the first time she had socialised in a long time and spoken about her pain.

The work created will be on show at a conference and exhibition in Leeds which will explore how experiences about pain can be communicated.

Former sufferers and health and social care workers have been invited to the event at Thackray Museum on Wednesday, March 10.

The conference will be held alongside an exhibition, by award-winning artist Deborah Padfield, called Perceptions of Pain.

The exhibition is currently touring the country and will be in Leeds until Tuesday, May 4.