"My blindness hasn’t stopped me becoming an illustrator"

[Ayisha]

"I was born prematurely and my optic nerves didn’t develop properly – I’m completely blind in my right eye and only have 10% sight in my left. Since I can remember I’ve loved drawing – but I prefer to use pencil as it’s more precise; I find I get paint everywhere. People are shocked when they realise my art was created by a blind person and question how it’s possible; I simply work using the images I see in my mind. I’ve exhibited my work to the public and last year I won the RNIB’s Young Illustrator of the Year Award. My dream is to illustrate children’s books – I won’t let being blind get in the way of that goal."

-Kimberley Burrows, 27, Manchester