An artist hanged himself after no one attended the launch of his new art project, an inquest heard.

Stuart Bennett, 58, organised an opening day at his studio on September 5 last year, as he wanted to start teaching art to children.

But the event clashed with the town’s horticultural show - and nobody came, an inquest at Macclesfield Town Hall heard.

A cleaner discovered Mr Bennett's body at the studio on Palmerston Street, Bollington, at 4pm the next day.

He had left a handwritten note, artwork and a heart-shaped chocolate on a desk.

Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner for Cheshire Nicholas Rheinberg said: “Such was his enthusiasm he galloped away with the project rather than plan it in care and detail. He changed the date of the open-day and it clashed with the horticultural show.

“It must’ve been quite a blow when the day came and went and not a single person attended.”

Mr Bennett was originally from Congleton but moved to Bollington after a divorce.

He found a job as a care assistant and started a relationship with a Helen Gretton-Wright, a photographer and writer. They lived on Turner Street.

The inquest heard that Mr Bennett was a recovering alcoholic who was being treated for anxiety and stress because of the divorce.

In July 2014, he told his GP he was having suicidal thoughts because of stress associated with work and fertility problems.

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In April 2015 he suffered a spinal fracture after a car crash.

His doctor prescribed him anti-depressants after he complained of being ‘mentally drained’ from the divorce and car accident.

Life took a more positive turn in August when he began renting the studio and co-organised an art and craft fair with his partner.

Buoyed by its success Mr Bennett threw himself into his plans to teach art to children.

Ms Gretton-Wright said: “He has been motivated about the project for some time. Following the craft fair he felt the time was right. He also dreamed of his own art studio.

“He was very motivated, manically excited about the open day.”

Ms Gretton-Wright said they went for a coffee and a walk after the failed open day, before Mr Bennett took a takeaway back to the studio at around 8.30pm and planned to stay the night there.

She said: “He wasn’t used to no one turning up. In Congleton he had a following, hangers on.

“He was taken back by the disappointment but after our walk had snapped out of it.

“Stuart was very restless. He always had a project on the go in order to feel valuable.

“He was on a manic spiral to achieve more and more. He wanted to get involved in everything. If he wanted something he would go out and get it.

"He could get very despondent in his art. I was heartened that he said he was going to start a new large canvas.”