This afternoon I’d like to take you on a short tour of some of the tactile installations I’ve worked on for the last three or four years.

In 2001 The Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle invited me to create a tactile interpretation of a painting for use by the visually impaired. My special interest as a sculptor is landscape. When the Gallery contacted me I was working with Sue King of the RNIB, learning how to make my landscapes meaningful and accessible to the visually impaired.

We decided on a bronze high relief sculpture, a tactile landscape of the painting that modified and exaggerated elements of the original image. Evaluation showed that the bronze, supporting audio and raised line material, worked well for visually impaired visitors. However the bronze also proved to be a surprisingly valuable resource for sighted visitors.

The installations I’ll be describing are exhibited at public heritage sites here in the UK. They are all different: they refer to unique subjects; they are made from diverse materials; some are purely tactile while others also use sound. But they all have three key design features in common:

First: A tactile installation is an open invitation for visually impaired visitors to experience images, objects and places for themselves.

Second: Design and production is informed at all stages by:

· consultation with visually impaired people

· guidance from the RNIB

· evaluation

Third: Each installation is accessible and relevant to sighted visitors.

There are inherent challenges in designing tactile installations that meet the needs of museums, galleries, heritage sites and their visitors:

· How to interpret an image, object or place in a way that makes sense by touch without compromising the integrity of the subject?

· How to cater for the diverse interests, preferences and abilities of visually impaired people?

· Is there any value in extending the design criteria to include sighted visitors?

· If so, how to ensure the installation contributes to the experience of sighted visitors without compromising on the needs of the visually impaired?

· How to design an attractive installation that is appropriate to its surroundings?

· How to incorporate responsible design, taking into account accessibility for wheelchair users, durability, easy maintenance and safety?