Shining a light on colour blindness: Aston University displays competition-winning artwork

Aston University has unveiled a new light sculpture designed as part of a campaign to raise awareness of colour blindness.

The non-profit, Colour Blind Awareness, launched the competition ‘Shining a light on colour blindness,’ with support from football club charities. 

The organisation aims to highlight the impact of colour vision deficiency, including in sport, and is part of an EU-funded project: Tackling Colour Blindness in Sport.

Young supporters were invited to draw a colourful picture of their favourite footballer.

The competition was won by a participant in one of Aston Villa Foundation’s Football in the Community holiday sessions.

The winning artwork, depicting Tyrone Mings, has since been transformed into a light sculpture and put on display inside the Aston University Vision Sciences building, in the paediatrics bay, as part of the partnership between the football foundation and Aston University.

CEO at Colour Blind Awareness, Kathryn Albany-Ward, explained that Aston Villa Foundation’s entry from Leo “charmed” judges, continuing that, with the light sculpture on display in Aston University: “We hope its location in the Vision Sciences Department will help raise more awareness of a condition that affects 8% of boys and 0.5% of girls worldwide, impacting on their education and ability to perform to their best in sport if left unsupported.”

Competition winner, 10-year-old Leo Evans from Erdington (pictured above), helped to unveil the sculpture, alongside Professor Anthony Hilton, the pro-vice-chancellor and executive dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences.

Evans said of his winning drawing: “I am very proud that my picture won the competition and that Tyrone Mings liked it. I now better understand what being colour blind means and I hope my picture has helped someone else.”

Hilton commented: “We are delighted for Leo. His winning drawing of Tyrone Mings looks fantastic as a light sculpture and we are proud to host it in our Vision Sciences building for our students, staff and visitors to enjoy, whilst raising awareness about colour blindness.”

The head of the Aston Villa Foundation, Guy Rippon, and foundation manager, Ross Alexander, met and congratulated the competition winner.

Alexander commented: “It has been a pleasure to have supported Colour Blind Awareness, who have done some great work in highlighting such an important and relevant topic during our coaching team’s workforce development.”