Painter embraces eye condition in art trail piece

1 April 2024

Harriet HeywoodBBC News, Cambridgeshire

News image — The self-taught painter was chosen to design a guide dog statue that has been displayed among other artworks in London's Canary Wharf

Kevin Gavaghan Kevin Gavaghan with the guide dog he designed, It is different shades of white and blue with vines going up its legs — The self-taught painter was chosen to design a guide dog statue that has been displayed among other artworks in London's Canary Wharf

An artist with a condition that distorts his vision says he is thankful for the "hurdles life has provided".

Kevin Gavaghan, 53, from St Neots, Cambridgeshire, says he has embraced his Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR), by creating art reflective of how he sees the world.

The self-taught painter was chosen to design a guide dog statue which has been displayed along London's Canary Wharf as part of an accessible art trail.

He said his artwork "became a great escapism for me, like therapy".

Kevin Gavaghan A fluid looking painting of an elderly woman with vibrant red and green colours — Mr Gavaghan described his vision as "like looking through a droplet of water on a pane of glass".

At the age of 12, Mr Gavaghan developed Tourette's, which brought on physical ticks.

It led to severe anxiety as he reached his late teens and he developed the eye condition, CSR, which is caused by fluid build-up behind the retina.

He described it as having "little blisters" in the back of his eyes, causing his vision to distort, "like looking through a droplet of water on a pane of glass".

'Great escapism'

"I had a bit of a talent for art when I was younger," said Mr Gavaghan, "but after my vision started to distort I thought it was another thing I could not do.

"But, it became a great escapism for me, like therapy, and I started to embrace my CSR in my work by distorting it and making it more fluid.

"My eyesight, the anxiety and Tourette's can be difficult when they kick in but without them I wouldn't do what I do, or be who I am, so I am thankful for the hurdles that life has provided me."

Kevin Gavaghan Mr Gavaghan with a sculpture of a guide dog — Part of his art process is to collect images and photographs, as well as making notes and drawings that reflects a memory at a point in time

The charity Guide Dogs, with event organisers Wild in Art, invited Mr Gavaghan to take part in the Canary Wharf trail, featuring 25 guide dog sculptures, each painted by a different artist.

Five of the sculptures have been painted by artists with sight loss issues.

Charlie Langhorne, co-founder of Wild in Art, said: “The trail will be a great opportunity for people to take a stroll around Canary Wharf and experience some truly unique and inspiring artwork, while finding out more about the important work of Guide Dogs.”

Guide Dogs guide dog art trail statue — Mr Gavanagh's trail design is called "Hope and Resilience", which he says recognises that "life is challenging and beautiful at the same time”

The statues will be auctioned at the end of the trial period, with funds raised helping to provide essential services and support to people with sight loss.

Deborah Bourne, director of fundraising for Guide Dogs, said: “Thank you to the wonderful artists and sponsors who have made Paws on the Wharf possible and who have given us this unique platform to raise awareness about what we do and the importance of inclusivity, as well as the opportunity to raise funds by auctioning these incredible artworks.”

Paws on the Wharf continues until 17 May.