Dawn

Dawn is a well-known blind artist and says her BWBF radio keeps her company while she’s painting.

Despite having no sight at all in one of her eyes and no peripheral vision in the other, she creates beautiful pieces of artwork.

She taught herself to paint and uses a magnifier which enables her to see things when she’s painting in ‘10p size at a time’.

Dawn also uses a monocular which she says helps her see and through this, she’s got to know how the world around her looks.

Her paintings, which can take her years to perfect, have been sold around the world and she gives talks and runs workshops to inspire other blind people to take up art.

Dawn was born blind in her right eye and has no peripheral vision in either.

“Everybody that can see doesn’t realise how beautiful the world is,” she says.

“When you start painting then you begin to see the world. You get to know it.

“The grass is so green and some fields are golden – it’s stunning. Absolutely beautiful. We are very lucky.”

Dawn says she does have to make some of what she’s painting up, and she does often go wrong, but she enjoys the challenge.

While she’s in her studio painting Dawn, who lives in Dover, says she enjoys listening to talking books on her Concerto 2.

It is British Wireless’s most popular set and is a multimedia player which includes CD, cassette tape and memory stick functions.

She said: “When you have got a radio and books to listen to it makes a big difference to your life.

“I don’t go out very much and I enjoy listening to the talking books.

“My radio is very good – I like the yellow buttons as they are tactile and it’s easy to use.

“It means I can listen and it’s so crisp and clear. When you put a talking book on it’s like someone is in the room with you.

“When I’m stuck in the studio and all on my own I put one of my books on, I have got a collection, or I listen to the radio and that’s very good.”

Dawn says she’s glad her paintings have inspired other people who have lost their sight.