Translink Artist in Residence Turns Personal Sight Loss Journey into Artwork pictured Colum Delan

The painting was created by Ed Reynolds as part of his Translink Artist in Residence programme and was inspired by conversations and shared experiences during a workshop hosted at Belfast Grand Central Station in partnership with RNIB Northern Ireland.

The session brought together members of the RNIB community to discuss travelling across Northern Ireland with sight loss, exploring themes of independence, confidence, sound, memory and movement within public spaces.Rather than focusing on what a station looks like, the artwork responds to how a station feels shaped by the voices, reflections and lived experiences shared by participants during the workshop.

Danielle Campbell said: “At Translink, accessibility is about much more than infrastructure it is about people feeling confident, welcome and connected when using public transport.  This workshop created a meaningful space for conversation, listening and learning, and we are incredibly proud to present this artwork to RNIB Northern Ireland as a reflection of those shared experiences.  Belfast Grand Central Station was designed to be a space for everyone, and projects like this remind us how important it is to continue listening to the voices of passengers with lived experience as we shape inclusive public transport for the future.”

RNIB NI’s Policy and Campaigns Officer Colum Delaney, said:  “Public transport plays a vital role in supporting independence and connection for blind and partially sighted people whether for work, education, healthcare or to socialise. We were delighted to partner with Translink and Ed Reynolds on this thoughtful and creative workshop, which gave participants an opportunity to share their lived experiences in an open and meaningful way.  The resulting artwork is a powerful reflection of those conversations and highlights the importance of designing public spaces and transport.

Artist in Residence Ed Reynolds said: “This project changed how I think about place and movement. The conversations during the workshop were deeply personal and incredibly moving. Participants spoke about navigating stations through sound, rhythm, memory and trust — experiences that many sighted people may never stop to consider.  Following my own experience of partial sight loss after a detached retina in 2025, these discussions resonated with me in a very personal way.  The painting became less about representing a station visually and more about trying to capture atmosphere, connection and the emotional experience of travel. It has been a privilege to create this work with and for the RNIB community.”

The artwork forms part of Translink’s wider Better.Connected approach to community engagement and creative placemaking at Belfast Grand Central Station, using art and storytelling to create spaces that reflect the people and communities they serve.