A talented artist is trying to recover from the trauma of going blind in one eye on Christmas Eve, and is taking steps to resume her successful career.
Beverley Fry, whose work has found favour with Lord Lloyd Webber and the Duchess of Kent, was celebrating with friends and neighbours over the festive period when she suddenly lost the sight in her eye. She had to race to hospital in a taxi, and was diagnosed with a tear in the retina which had caused a bleed.
Terrified by the devastating attack of blindness, and worried about her future life and livelihood, Beverley was forced to sit still for many days while undergoing laser surgery to treat the condition.
“I had the treatment at Shrewsbury Hospital and found the staff supportive and kind to me, but for an artist who has lived by and for her work for the last 35 years it’s been a huge shock,” said Beverley, of Much Wenlock. “I never once thought anything would go wrong with my sight.
“The situation has caused me acute anxiety. I can still see squiggles in front of my eyes, but thankfully my vision is now back and is improving.
“I’ve recently been doing some painting with my brother who is also an artist, and has come over from Istanbul. It has been very enjoyable. But I have to rest more and not try to do too much”.
Beverley is now planning to cut back on some of her commitments, but hopes to go ahead with a prestigious project with the National Gallery in London if it gets the necessary funding.
She has been sketching subjects in the famous gallery and her work may be available to buy as cards in the gallery’s ‘Love Art Shop’ after April.
“I await the event with excitement. We are just waiting to hear if the necessary funding is available,” said Beverley.