Five years ago she was diagnosed with Crohns Disease, underwent five operations, spent nine months in hospital and was sent home to die.

But she never gave up. She received love and support from her husband and friends, was on the healing list of many friends involved with alternative therapies, and found a surgeon who treated her successfully.

Now extremely well and aged 60, Glenyss has opened the Sanctuary Angel Gallery and Healing Centre in Frankston, and is holding her first exhibition there later this month.

During the early stages of her illness, Glenyss treated herself with herbs and flowers and became interested in angels. She began painting angels and hung her bright works over the comparatively drab hospital paintings for inspiration and healing.

She now uses a computer to digitally create angel pictures, which will be displayed at the gallery.

Glenyss uses the light technology of the computer because she believes this most closely matches the quality of light in the angelic realms.

The Sanctuary Angel Gallery and Healing Centre, at 2 Spring Street, Frankston, will be open from 11am to 4pm weekends and 1 to 4pm on weekdays until December 2; and then 1-4pm, Thursday to Sunday, until Christmas.

Sanctuary also offers Reiki treatments and workshops, crystal energy massage, angelic healing and Anaheart flower remedies.