Low Vision, Creativity, and Sensory Art

At Radiate Arts, we believe that creativity is more than just a hobby; it’s a powerful tool for connection, expression, and wellbeing.  When words fail or when daily challenges feel overwhelming creativity offers a safe, joyful, and inclusive space to heal, to be heard, and to belong.  

That’s why we we’re so excited to have been a part of Vision Support’s Low Vision Roadshow in Ellesmere Port last week. It was an event designed to bring people living with low vision together with services, resources, and opportunities that can help improve quality of life. 

The Power of Creativity for Mental Health  

The link between creativity and mental health is well documented, and we see it every day in our work. In an article from the Journal of Psychology a group of young adults participated in everyday creative activities. The findings showed that creativity helped them to feel more positive. 

This is something that we have found to be true in our work with vision impaired individuals. Working in collaboration with Vision Support on a previous project we offered stone carving workshops, where one of our participants said: 

“The stone carving workshop has given me a new sense of independence and creativity. I never thought I would create something like this, but now I feel more confident exploring new things in my life

- Stone carving workshop participant   

Whether it’s painting, sculpting, quilting, or cooking, creative activities can: 

• Reduce stress and anxiety, 

• Boost confidence and self-esteem,  

• Reduce feelings of being isolated and lonely, 

• Spark a sense of joy. 

  
  

For people living with sight loss, the impact on mental health can be significant. Loss of vision often brings feelings of isolation, frustration, and people can feel disconnected from things they once loved. We have found that creative expression can help people find a pathway back to self-confidence, community, and joy.  

Exploring Creativity with Low Vision 

Getting creative after experiencing sight loss can feel daunting, to the point of feeling impossible. We have found that the sense of creative grief can lead to people avoiding trying new hobbies. One of our visibly impaired stone carving workshop participants said: “I have realised that I can try other things that I never thought I could.” 

Creativity has the power to bring happiness into people’s lives, helping them to expand their aspirations and potential in new ways.  

Expressing yourself creatively through a multi-sensory approach is a great way to connect with your creative passions when experiencing sight loss. Tactile and textured art forms offer not only an artistic expression but give you the opportunity to experience mindfulness as you create too.  At the Roadshow we were showcasing this type of creativity, but more on that in a little bit.  

Case Study: Stone Carving  

Taking place in the sensory landscape of Mount Pleasant Gardens, Kelsall, our stone carving workshops showed that a creative approach can make a significant difference in the lives of visibly impaired individuals, bringing both personal and social benefits. Our sessions offered a structured approach to exploring stone carving, guiding participants to explore different textures and carving techniques.  

Through this tactile experience in a small group setting, participants created stone carvings that represented their own personal experiences. Gaining increased skills in tactile exploration, participants reported feeling increased self-confidence and enjoyment in the social aspect of our creative workshops. One participant said: “It’s given me the impetus to try new things. Inspiration to have a go.” 

Sensory Art Ideas for Adults with Low Vision  

Sensory art is a great way to explore your creativity, and there are many forms of sensory art which engage sound, touch, smell, and taste. The power of creating with your hands often helps you to form a deep connection with your art and is a wonderful way to express yourself. 

 Stone carving is not the only sensory creative activity adults can engage with. Here are some examples of sensory art ideas for adults with low vision: 

• Collaging with fabrics, textured papers, ribbons, and natural materials like leaves or sand. Build collages by layering textures, and take it further by adding paint, perhaps with sand, to the paint.   

• Clay modelling or air-dry sculpting.  Enjoy creating shapes with your bare hands moulding contours to create a unique expression.  

• String art. Use a board with pins or nails and create lines and images with coloured string.  

• Jewellery making using bead threading to create wearable pieces of unique jewellery.  

• Pottery or ceramics: throw the clay on the pottery wheel and use your hands to create unique pieces of textured pottery that can also later be painted. 

• Sensory garden projects: creating an indoor or outdoor garden with fragrant herbs or tactile plants such as Lamb’s Ear (Stachys Byzantina) which has soft leaves. 

• Weaving and creating patterns with material that you knot or braid, possibly adding in beads. 

Low Vision Support Roadshow  

The Vision Support Low Vision Roadshow saw charities from across Cheshire West come together at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall to provide local people with a wealth of information and support. Ellesmere Port was the second of three roadshow events held across Northwest England and North Wales showcasing support and services available for people with a vision impairment.  

There were a variety of charities and organisations present, and we enjoyed meeting the people who passed through the doors. Highlighting how people can find expression in creativity, at our stall we hosted a botanical clay imprint activity. 

We invited people to get involved in a hands-on creative experience designed to be fun, easy, and uplifting. Offering a chance to try something new, people could create a clay imprint using natural flowers that they could take home.  

Participants explore each others sculptures through touch during a Stone Carving workshop

A tactile bauble made by a participant at a creative workshop with Vision Support

We also shared our upcoming Group Art Therapy Workshops for those living with a chronic illness.

For us, this event was more than just an information day; it was a celebration of what’s possible when communities and charities come together to support wellbeing. 

If you’re looking for help with low vision, Vision Support will be able to offer help, support and guidance. For anyone in the LGBTQ+ community experiencing vision loss, why not consider coming along to one of our cooking or sewing workshops, where you can enjoy exploring your creativity in a group setting. Click here to find out more about events happening with Radiate Arts.