Peter Evans

I first discovered I was aphantasic almost 69 years ago, aged 11, when in my first art class, the master asked everyone to draw a cow from memory. My protestations that I couldn't "see" a cow in my mind's eye fell on deaf and incredulous ears. My father's family were mostly dairy farmers, so I had been up close to cows and could describe their attributes accurately, but simply had no visual image of the animals... so drawing from memory was just impossible. I have always used this experience when trying to describe to people what it's like to experience the condition. Fortunately in my lifetime, the world has become more digital and less analogue, so aphantasia hasn't hinder my life. In fact I think it has probably aided my analytic and problem-solving capabilities. My only regret is not being able to remember what my wife and kids and grandkids look like without actually seeing them. For those no longer with us, I have to rely on photographs.