Island Life Feature When it comes to a career, the career of DONNA JONES MBE will be found in the file marked ‘Not for the faint hearted’! Donna worked with ‘at risk’ and vulnerable teenagers in Sheffield for 31 years which resulted in her receiving the MBE in 2010. After taking early retirement, Donna moved to the ISLE OF WIGHT to focus on her art and spoken word poetry. She is a member of THE RYDE ART COLLECTIVE and has exhibited her vibrant paintings and glass boat sculptures with them on a number of occasions at Quarr Abbey and the Depozitory. In 2015 Donna joined the ASPEX ARTISTS’ ASSOCIATES in Portsmouth to develop her more challenging art and professional practice. View THE CONFLICT OF THE HUMAN SITUATION under the ART section. As a writer and poet Donna has published 2 books; BLUE DEVILS and THE THICK AND THIN OF IT. She is a regular performer on the island’s open mic circuit. Donna says the highlight was performing her poetry at BESTIVAL’S amphitheatre in 2012 and establishing SOUND BITES in 2014 to showcase new spoken word and acoustic music talent. Throughout 2014 Donna set herself the target of supporting 50 local island charities through the sale and donations of her art work. She has had 3 major fund raising events at Readers Interiors, Newport; Bembridge village hall and the 3 Buoys restaurant in Appley. ‘I have had a fantastic response to my artwork and poetry here and I have written some new poems about the Island and the diverse people I’ve met. I love the blues of the Solent, it’s a bit different to the Blackpool brown of my childhood that I’m used to!’ She said.