An artist has overcome a severe degenerative disease to produce incredible portraits that are hand-drawn with pencil crayons.

Supachai Nimcharoen, 49, was born with the rare condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord leading to weakened muscles.

Despite the condition becoming progressively worse, Supachai is still able to steady his hands enough to make the impressive custom etchings for locals in Bangkok, Thailand.

The humble artist lives in a wooden home in the Chom Thong district of the capital city where he charges around 1,200 Baht (27.35 GBP) for a sketch.

Speaking in the video, he says: 'I've been painting for many years. I started off with painting aimlessly but I have been getting more serious and focused in the last couple of years. I painted birds, fish, trees, anything.

'What I consider to be my best achievements are portrait pictures that I've focused on over the last year.
I started training by watching YouTube videos and I taught myself from those.'

Supachai, whose nickname is Nim, charges 1,200 Baht (27.35 GBP) for single-person portraits, 1,500 Baht (34.18 GBP) for A2 size pictures of two people, or 2,000 Baht (45.58 GBP) for portraits including three or four people.

The inspirational artist added: 'I have an illness but it cannot stop me from using my talent. I hope that my story encourages other people to overcome whatever problems they have and to do what they enjoy.'

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is sometimes known as Lou Gehrig's disease after the famous New York Yankees baseball star who played 17 seasons before the disease forced him to retire at age 36 and killed him two years later.

The condition is said to be a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Scientists do not know what causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but they believe that genetics and environmental factors both contribute to motor neuron degeneration, which leads to the illness.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION

00.58 My name is Suppachai Nimcharoen, my nickname is Nim. I am a 49-year-old and a patient with weak muscles

01.10 I've been painting for many years. I started off painting aimlessly but I have been getting more serious and focused in the last couple of years. I paint birds, fish, trees... anything

01.33 'What I consider to be my best achievements are portrait pictures that I've focused on over the last year

01.41 I started training by watching YouTube videos and I taught myself from those

01.47 For portrait pictures, I have three prices. Large pictures with one person are 1200 Baht including postal fees. For pictures of two, like lovers, it will be A2 size paper for 1500 Baht. For a family picture of three to four people, it is around 2000 Baht

02.09 You can find me on Facebook with my username. Please feel free to get in touch if you'd like to order paintings from me