Former British Transport Police officer's exhibition at Retrosential gallery, Rochester
14:43, 18 August 2021
updated: 14:45, 18 August 2021
After suffering horrific injuries in a bicycle accident in London, Anne Baldwin knew her much-loved job as an active police officer was over.
Her duties with the British Transport Police were limited to desk work after the crash which left her with life-changing disability on her left side.
The 55-year-old took two weeks off after a nasty asthma attack in February last year and as lockdown was imposed she never stepped back in the office.
At her home on St Mary's Island, she started to write poetry "to keep my brain active".
And when the words dried up one day she began doodling for inspiration.
It was then she discovered drawing was a form of therapy which relaxed her and made her feel fulfilled.
The former bailiff decided to expand her unknown artistic skills by watching YouTube tutorials and learning different techniques.
Then she started off sketching portraits for friends and after her work was posted on Facebook the orders started flooding in from as far away as America.
By the time she caught Covid-19 in September, she had built a reputation for new-found talent and decided it was time to retire from the force, which she served for 15 years.
She said: "I know what happened to me was terrible. I spent three months bed-ridden and suffered crippling pain in my back and hand.
"But I honestly believe the accident may have been the best thing that could have happened to me.
"I believe it must have been fate. I bought the bicycle from a friend that morning and it was the first time I had been on it.
"They say good things come out of bad and that's what happened to me."
Anne had several jobs before joining the transport police, including a hairdresser and funeral arranger.
She added: "I loved being outside as an officer dealing with people, but this is what I am happiest doing. It's taken a long time, but this shows there is light at the end of every tunnel."
She is currently staging her first exhibition at the Retrosential art gallery, 388 High Street, Rochester. It runs until Sunday August 29.
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