Steve Light’s story

Steve Light

Steve Light was born in 1982 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and grew up in Marlborough as a shy child, happy in his own company and losing himself in drawing from an early age.

Steve now living in Swindon is a figurative and portrait artist having displayed his art work in many exhibitions using materials such as acrylics, watercolour, oils and marker pens. His work expresses the diversity of people, their stories and the problems we all share and indeed the quirks we all have or inherit too. His very interesting pieces are centred around body insecurities and health issues mostly CKD related, but all have the real message of hope and how important it is for kidney patients to express themselves in many varied ways. Steve’s first diagnosis came completely out of the blue after a random blood test for cholesterol and was told his kidneys were working at 30%. To be told this at a young age didn’t really affect Steve particularly as he had no symptoms even through his year on dialysis in 2009-2010. In December 2010 the phone call came to say a donor had been found – how amazing and shocking too! After multiple phone calls to Steve’s girlfriend (now his wife) he was asked to attend the hospital immediately. Within 12 hours Steve had a new kidney and was in recovery starting a new chapter in his life with feelings he couldn’t begin to process. Amazingly within four weeks after recovery he was back at work as a freelance web designer. A wonderful life than started being able to do the things others could do. What followed was completing a 5k and 10k charity run, achieving a blue belt in Kung Fu, being able to holiday abroad and the icing on the cake was marrying his wife, Samantha in 2017. Life was getting back to some sort of normality. Four years later Steve began feeling out of breath and contacted his GP thinking asthma was the cause. The news came that the kidney transplant was staring to fail after 11 years which is the average time a kidney from a deceased donor lasts.

I started feeling weaker and weaker over the coming months and gave up my hobbies. Going from being relatively fit to not being able to walk came as a shock for me. Speaking to my psychologist really helped me gain perspective and the resilience to push through.’

Steve and wife Samantha

Gradually Steve found the strength and energy to once again paint and decided his first portrait would be based on a photo; one he took during one of his first dialysis sessions.

Steve’s health deteriorated due to spending much time in bed and suffering from nausea and low energy. Even through these times Steve held onto the hope that one day he was going to paint something to show his journey which amazingly he has gone onto do this and so much more. Finding the first sessions exhausting and emotional is something all dialysis patients will identify with, and the travelling a 90-minute trip to his unit in Swindon added to his exhaustion. Gradually Steve found the strength and energy to once again paint and decided his first portrait would be based on a photo; one he took during one of his first dialysis sessions. ‘I am hoping this reveals a sensitive side as an artist, a vulnerable side. Being able to expose the tough times through my art will hopefully uplift others, or at least provoke some kind of reaction that leads to a positive reaction of reflection.’ We see an extremely vulnerable but strong man who has drawn from his experiences in a way that has made a difference and will continue to do so. Steve's message is ‘we don’t all have to paint a portrait but need to be able to find a way to let feelings out; be it read a book, or watch a film you have been putting off, or even draw. Steve’s artwork can be seen at www.slartme. We recommended you have a look at Steve's website, we are sure you will find something that touches or inspires you.

If like Steve, you have a story or thought to share, please email us, as we would love to hear from you. kidneylife@kidney.org.uk