FOUR years ago Huddersfield man Antony Ward was an alcoholic who had lost his job and his home.

But now he is a shining example of what can be achieved by overcoming addiction.

Antony, 39, of Lascelles Hall, has been `dry' for four years and is the proud owner of a fast-growing art business.

He set up internet-based company Stonedhendge in February.

The artwork on sale is mainly photographs, taken by Antony himself.

Although most of the work centres on erotic art and images of cannabis, Antony is open to all subject matter.

He has done portrait work and sculpture.

Until he beat alcoholism four years ago, art played little part in Antony's life.

He was an excavation driver, but lost his job because of his drinking.

This led to a spiral of debt, leading to bankruptcy and the loss of his home.

But Antony managed to give up alcohol and during his recovery began taking an interest in art and photography.

He taught himself to use photographic programmes on his computer to enhance his work.

When he discovered there was a demand for his art - particularly for the pictures of cannabis plants - he set up the website www.stonedhendge.com to sell the work.

He said: "I got off my backside and did something to improve myself. It started off just being therapeutic, but now it is my full-time job.

"I'm self-employed and I love it."

He managed all of this without help from business support organisations.

Antony said: "I was knocked back by quite a few people. They didn't want to know.

"I was either too old or too young and I was not going into manufacturing or employing people straightaway.

"It has cost about £5,000 to get to the point I'm at now."

Antony's reputation is spreading; he has already had work featured in Digital Camera Magazine three times.

Antony says much of his success is due to his partner, Carol, who helps him run the business side of things and has been a constant support.

He said: "I couldn't have done it without her.

"If it was not for Carol I would probably be dead by now."

Antony is enjoying such success with his business that he is investing in a new, professionally-designed website.

He is also trying to turn the Stonedhendge name and logo into a trademark.

This will mean no-one else can use the name or logo - giving Antony a unique symbol to use on a line of Stonedhendge clothing, headgear and merchandise he is planning to release.

He said: "It is my 40th birthday next month and I was given some money early. So I decided to invest it in getting a trademark."

The Trademarks Registry is considering Anthony's application.

It has to wait three months to see if anyone objects to Stonedhendge becoming a trademark before giving approval.

As well as protecting his own corporate identity, Antony plans to move into designing logos and doing artwork for other people.

He said: "People have asked me about doing designs for them and I'm looking to move in that direction."