Mr Dot and His Magical White Cane Adventures (2025)
It began with a simple idea - a braille children’s book that looked like it really belonged. I met Clarke, an established blind braille pop artist and worked to help him make this happen.
Clarke, as a visually impaired individual, identified a key issue with braille children’s books. Bound in Filofax, sat occasionally in a library but never in a Waterstones, they have never really felt inclusive.
“ I see through a thousand dots.”
We worked tirelessly together to bring his ‘Mr Dot’ character to life through dozens of illustrations, and took a step further to ensure the book worked harmoniously with both latin and braille alphabets. It remained tactile yet enjoyable for sighted readers.
Project background
Clarke’s work, aka ‘Mr Dot’, has been exhibited in galleries across the UK and internationally, captivating audiences with his bold use of colour and narrative. His innovative practice has earned him significant recognition, including:
Becoming an Ambassador for Fight for Sight, helping raise awareness and funds for vision research.
Patron for the charity VICTA
Being named a finalist for the National Diversity Awards, which celebrate individuals who champion
inclusion.Featuring in numerous interviews, podcasts, and media appearances that highlight both his personal journey and the wider importance of accessibility in the arts.
It was an exceptional feeling to connect with Clarke and act as his eyes in this scenario, by developing the ‘Mr Dot’ character. We worked hard to bring the story from his mind onto paper as a set of illustrations to compliment this one-of-a-kind children’s book, which has now reached schools as far as the Falkland Islands.
From classrooms to libraries, bedtime stories to school assemblies, this adventure sparks meaningful conversations about accessibility, resilience and the power of being different.
With braille integrated into the design, children are encouraged to feel the story–literally and emotionally.
“If we can teach children that braille is just another way to read, then we remove the stigma before it starts.” – Mr Dot (Clarke Reynolds)
