PAUL Meeks is painting against time. The talented 23-year-old county artist faces total blindness - with full faith in his point of view.

"You have to look with more than just your eyes if you're to see the world properly. I may be blind, but there are things that I can see more clearly than anyone else."

Paul's work will open Art in Heaven, a new county gallery at Llanwarne, next month.

The inaugural exhibition includes Insight, a show of images illustrating his condition, visual descriptions that communicated information to specialists previously only available through words.

Already registered blind, Paul has Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative, genetic disorder.

Among the symptoms are short sight, an inability to focus continually and night blindness, where any light less than day is difficult to see clearly in.

If this wasn't enough, he's recently developed sensitivity to bright light, and still has the potential for cataracts and detached retinas. This doesn't put Paul off short-term plans, concentrating on painting as his sight settles back down.

Two projects are already underway.

First up - a series of 15 works featuring Hereford scenes.

But if the theme seems familiar, its interpretation is ambitious.

"In previous work I've tried to illustrate the way I see the world. With this self initiated brief I'm attempting to tackle the flip side of the coin, trying to understand how it is so-called sighted people see the same things I do."

Reflection

This concept is then turned around again to take in what prompts Paul to peer close - that which many miss because they don't have to look.

"The reflection in a tap, a door handle or one of your landlady's ornaments in the living room. There are so many little corners and trinkets hidden away that almost anything can be used to create an interesting abstract image, if observed closely enough and with the right frame of mind."

Hereford has been Paul's home for five years, and is likely to be so for a lot longer.

He's 'fallen in love' with the city and its history since coming to complete a BTEC Foundation at the Royal National College for the Blind; subsequently staying on to study for a BA (Hons) Illustration at the College of Art and Design. "I could probably spend a lifetime here and never even get close to seeing it all - but then it does take me twice as long to look at something as it does for most people."

For the meantime Paul wants nothing more than to paint while he can. Beyond that he thinks of turning his talents to writing when sight does desert him completely - as he knows it will.

Once this filled him with 'fear and resentment'. Now he has a faith in the future.

"I look it at from the point of view that when my sight changes it means that everything looks different again and that means it can be painted differently, keeping things fresh and interesting."

l Insight is exhibited at Art in Heaven, Llanwarne, throughout October. By contrast, Paul is also showing a chiaroscuro series of countryside scenes alongside. Admission between 10am-5pm is free. More from the gallery on 01981 540202 (www.artinheaven.fsnet.co.uk).

n Examples of the work on display, on this page.