“Living Paintings is a part of our everyday routine” – Mhairi’s story

Raising twins is never easy, but for Nate’s mum Mhairi, the journey has been far from typical. Born at just 26 weeks, Nate and his twin brother Danny faced a difficult start in life. While Danny developed his vision normally, Nate was diagnosed with a severe visual impairment after a rare condition affected his sight. But both boys love to read and explore the books from Living Paintings.

Four-year-old Nate was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital at just three months old to save the vision he has today after he was diagnosed with nystagmus as well as Stage 4 Retinopathy of Prematurity – a sight-threatening condition where abnormal blood vessels pull the retina partially away from the back of the eye.

Despite early concerns and a difficult prognosis, Nate has gone on to defy expectations. Now four years old, he is registered severely sight impaired but continues to develop, with his family believing he can see colours and shapes.

Mhairi says that while his identical twin brother Danny has full vision, they’ve always been determined to share experiences equally between them.

“We read to both boys when they were little, but Nate couldn’t see the images like Danny could,” she explains. “When our Qualified Teacher of Vision Impairment suggested Living Paintings, we signed up straight away.”

From the moment the books arrived, Nate was drawn to them in his own way.

“He’s very tactile and loves to explore with his hands and fingers,” says Mhairi. “The plastic pages really engage him, he runs his fingers over them and examines everything closely. At first, it wasn’t so much about the story, but about discovering the textures and shapes.”

Using a standing aid and supportive seating, Nate was able to engage with the books at eye level, helping him get even more from the bright colours and tactile elements.

“If I put him in his stander with his glasses on and the books in front of him, he would really focus on them. His brother would toddle over and join in too. It became something they could experience together.”

“He loves doors and vehicles – anything like that in a book, he’ll move it as close as possible to see it. He’s starting to point things out, which is amazing to see. It’s really helping with his vocabulary too.”

For Mhairi, one of the most meaningful aspects of Living Paintings has been the sense of inclusion it brings, not just at home, but in nursery too.

“We take the books into nursery and the other children read with him. It’s so important for Nate to feel included, and the staff have been brilliant. The other kids get involved and it becomes a shared experience.”

Even at home, the books are something both boys enjoy together.

“Danny actually prefers the Living Paintings books now. Even if he has a flat version, he’ll choose the same one as Nate because they’re more exciting. They both love Julia Donaldson, and the sea-themed book is a favourite. Nate especially loves the textures of the sea creatures.”

The flexibility of the service has made it easy to fit into family life, with a rolling subscription bringing new books each month.

“We have books all over the house,” says Mhairi. “Nate is always grabbing them and flicking through the pages. They’ve become part of our everyday routine.”

Looking ahead, Nate’s journey is still unfolding. While he may use large print or potentially braille in the future, his family continue to explore what works best as his vision develops, with support from Sight Scotland.

For now, Living Paintings continues to play a key role in his development and enjoyment.

“It’s something we’ll definitely continue as he grows,” says Mhairi. “The books are so accessible and easy to use in lots of different ways. But more than anything, they allow Nate to share in something with his brother and that means everything.”