LOSING her baby days before he was born was the most devastating thing that ever happened to Jasmine Aras.

But the traumatic experience was the motivation she needed to start painting again, and now she plans to host her first ever solo exhibition in memory of son River, and in aid of Swindon SANDS (stillbirth and neonatal death charity).

Taking place at The Core in Old Town from 7pm on November 14, the Flow River Flow exhibition coincides with what would have been River's first birthday, on November 10.

"It was the most devastating moment of my whole life," said the 31-year-old from Royal Wootton Bassett, who is 18-weeks pregnant with her second child. "I just kept saying: I had carried him for nine months.

"I think I kept expecting a miracle to happen, and I don't think it was until the funeral that I really realised there wasn't going to be one.

"It's been a very hard year. They say the first year is the hardest, and I don't think there's been a day where I haven't cried at least once.

"The birth itself wasn't a sad experience though.

"I had been waiting for so long to meet him, I was still proud to have given birth, and still proud to finally meet my son."

Flow River Flow will feature nine or 10 pieces painted by Jasmine, as well as pieces by her father, Jeff Brown, who is travelling from Australia for the event.

"I knew that I wanted to do something positive and I wanted to do something in his memory," she said.

"I hadn't done any art for years just because I needed to hold down a job and other things, so I decided I wanted to hold an art exhibition.

"I was part of this ant-natal class and as soon as I lost him I felt that I couldn't really be a part of it any more. But soon after they invited me for a coffee and we met up, and I met all their babies.

"I decided I would paint them and their babies as part of the exhibition."

Shortly after River's death, Jasmine got in touch with Swindon SANDS, which offered her the support she needed.

"When I was still in the hospital they gave me this memory box, where I could keep photographs, prints of his hands and his feet.

"I am lucky because I have so much support from my friends and family, but going to SANDS made a huge difference, being able to talk to other women who had lots their babies.

"They also asked me questions like what was his name, how much did he weigh, all the normal things people don't ask because they don't want to upset you.

"Their support made me want to give something back.

"River has been with me the whole way, he's been the one who continued pushing me to do this."

To donate to SANDS via the exhibition, visit http://www.justgiving.com/flowriverflow.

To find out more about Jasmine and her work, visit her blog at www.flowriverflow.wordpress.com.