A visually-impaired artist from Sheppey plans to highlight sight loss and the everyday challenges people face at her next exhibition.

Victoria Claire, of Sanspareil Avenue, Minster, will display her contemporary sculptures next month as part of a unique concept called Blind: A Sixth Sense.

The 42-year-old is inviting people to connect with their senses by displaying a collection of six purposely-created sculptures in the dark.

The six sculptures represent one of the senses: sight; sound; smell; touch; taste and a final piece of work which represents a sense of trust.

Victoria, a born and bred islander, said: “All of the senses are so important for blind and visually impaired people – it is how we engage with the world around us.

"I chose to present such an exhibition because these are things I want to highlight about blindness and, by putting the public into a blind situation, I am intrigued to see how people get on and what different emotions they will go through.

“It’s all about helping people connect with their senses.”

As a teenager, Victoria studied graphic design at West Kent College, before winning a place at Staffordshire University for a course in Figurative Sculpture.

“The exhibition will give an opportunity to engage all other senses, this I feel is something the sighted world miss out on” - Victoria Claire

However, she had to walk away from this when, aged just 19, she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition that results in blindness.

When she reached 22, Victoria started to freelance sculpture.

Now, with five percent remaining vision, she is trained to use a long cane and preparing for her latest exhibition at Beach Creative Community Arts Centre in Herne Bay.

“I have since found a sense of trust when I’m out using my cane,” she said.

“This is a very liberating feeling, especially after living the past 20 years in fear of my sight loss. I now am learning that my life can still continue to be active and full with exciting new endeavours as when I had vision.

“The exhibition will give an opportunity to engage all other senses, this I feel is something the sighted world miss out on.”