10 | UK Enterprise Awards 2023 Most Inspiring Sight-Impaired Artist 2023: Annie Fennymore Annie Fennymore is an artist that was registered blind 21 years ago. After sadly losing her granddaughter, she found herself compelled to painting and, since, she has developed her own form of tactile art. We take a closer look at her story and how channelling her pain into art has led her to being recognised in the UK Enterprise Awards 2023. At 28 years of age Annie Fennymore realised that a prescribed drug that she had been taking was reducing the level of oxygen going to her eyes. She was told that by the time she reached her 40s she would have no vision. Once her sight was near to nothing, she discovered she had bilateral cataract, which she was treated for but left scaring. Later, she had a fall that damaged her neck and hip, which left her unable to walk until three months later. As if that on its own wasn’t enough for one person to go through, Annie lost her granddaughter. As her vision disappeared and her world surrounded her with pain, she found strength to keep moving forward and accept the hurdles she now had to face. It was not an easy journey, but painting became her therapy. Blind Alley Art was founded by Annie, and it is where she showcases her very own tactile art. To create the wonderful pieces, she uses acrylic paints and raised mediums like – acrylic lava gel, sculpting pastes, adhesive grouting, a glue gun, cardboard, and more. You may wonder how she is able to make this happen. The process begins by Annie visualising the painting in her mind, once her idea is set, she creates a backdrop. Once that is dried, she uses Blue Tack to mark the subject and fills in the area with the mediums above. Annie does this using her fingers, and occasionally uses a brush for backgrounds and larger canvases. In terms of colour, she has talking electronic aids that read out the colour of the tubes. When she was introduced to these it transformed her paintings as she was able to incorporate more colour than ever before. For Annie, art is not meant to look like a photograph, it doesn’t need to be perfect. As long as the subject is clear, it just needs to make sense to the person who is viewing it. It is all about perception and for each person it may mean something completely unique to them. The techniques that she has incorporated throughout the years has enabled her to bring to life beautiful art for many to enjoy. Especially as tactile art enables the visually impaired to be able to interact with art through touch. Annie has shared her methods and techniques which are now carried out in the art and craft team for Blind Veterans, Brighton. In Essex, she leads her ‘Paint on…’ monthly art groups in Clacton on sea, and Colchester. On top of teaching and sharing her ways, she supports Royal Marines Association and one of her paintings ‘Poppies’ is on sale as a greeting card from https://royalmarinesshop.com/. The money all goes to the association to support those serving, injured, and the elderly. In addition, she has taken her work into schools and universities, worked with children with disabilities, adults with learning difficulties, and volunteered with Essex Sight, and Deaf/Blind U.K. Her work has been recognised and praised by artists. A portrait that she did of her Guide dog Amber won the Hellen Keller International Art Award in 2011 which was a confidence boost and pushed Annie to further develop her artwork. Annie had her first London exhibition at Sunbury Embroidery Gallery which was founded and supported by Arts Council England. Currently she regularly exhibits her art, followed by a talk at the Moorfields Academy who is made up of people that are involved in the care and health of eyes. Blind Alley Art represents that pain can create something beautiful and that if you look beyond the obstacles and the reasons why you can’t, you will find yourself surprised at what you are able to accomplish. The heartbreak that led her down this path, the patience, the strength, and the dedication that it has taken for her to show up year after year and make the best of what she has is truly inspiring. Annie’s perception on what she has gone through has enabled her to build something that others can look up to. She has adapted and accepted what life had put before her and as something ended, she focused on what could begin. It is fair to say that Annie inspires all of those who come across her work and her story, which is why it comes to no surprise that Annie has recently been awarded with Most Inspiring Sight-Impaired Artist 2023. We can all learn from the wisdom that Annie shares and what her art represents. If you are interested in buying one of her pieces, attending her upcoming exhibitions, or you are inspired by her story, head over to the Blind Alley Art website to find out more. Company: Blind Alley Art Web Address: www.blindalleyart.com Apr23351
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