Lynda Todd

Peterborough based artist Lynda Todd, who is visually impaired, has created a unique, tactile art exhibition to represent how climate change has impacted animals. The exhibition is called Migration: Land, Air and Sea. And yes, you can touch this art!

Todd wanted to create art that audiences can interact with and touch. The pieces are mixed media with the entire canvas designed to communicate with the audiences, both visually, and by touch. She uses braille text and texture to bring an additional element to the art. These pieces are designed so the audience can feel how vital migration is to the environment and climate change. Todd also designed the art cards for her pieces including the information in large text and braille.

Before beginning her artistic journey, Todd didn’t think that art was something she would be able to do; but, with some encouragement she tried and hasn’t looked back.

“I did not think I would ever be able to create art. I went to a workshop because the instructor kept encouraging me to try it. When I started to paint, I loved it! Suddenly it felt like something I could do,” says Todd. “My work did not look or feel like that of others. It was uniquely mine. I could express my own feelings and ideas through art. I could present my concerns for the environment, for the migrating creatures, through the art I wanted to share with everyone. I began to explore and experiment with textures, collage, impasto, building up the surfaces, colour choices and resin. I loved the direction it was taking me. Soon I had enough art to exhibit and was offered a solo show.”

Todd has developed her story-telling technique and this has enabled her to incorporate the storytelling directly in her pieces. She began her artistic journey by telling the stories of her paintings but as she found people were touching her paintings she became inspired.

Todd has spent the last few years making tactile art. She began with more abstract pieces, using materials to build them up including resin and natural materials. She prefers to start with a wider gallery canvas and build from there, ensuring that the textures fit the subjects. She has found the reactions of audiences to her work to be positive.