Art exhibition from Day Hospice patients

Ron Saxby has drawn a number of portraits

The exhibition, held on June 29, displayed a variety of artwork, ranging from films and photography through to more traditional paintings and prints.

Part of the exhibition at the hospice in Titnore Lane displayed the work of Ron Saxby, who painted an immaculate self-portrait and is currently working on a portrait of his wife.

He said: “Throughout my whole life I have been an artist and graphic designer and when I retired I started painting full-time. When I became ill I thought my art would come to an end, but then I was referred to St Barnabas and I found the art studio here.”

Another significant part of the exhibition was the ‘Hands project’ which invited patients attending the Day Hospice to think about the things they have done with their hands during their lifetimes.

Artist in residence Steven Stratford said: “From birth to death we live our life through our hands - we earn our living, eat, raise our families, we communicate and we love through our hands, yet we rarely give thought to them and how important they are to us.”

One lady whose artwork was featured was Valerie Wilson, 67, who photographed her own hands holding a picture of a foot.

Valerie said: “In 1968 I gave birth to a baby girl who was stillborn. Things were different back then as they used to take the baby away and you would never get to see it again. All I got to touch as the baby was taken away was its foot.”

Valerie Wilson has done some photography work for the exhibition.

Steven added: “The creative process works in many ways to enable people to express the things they feel unable to do through words alone, offering an opportunity to communicate an idea or concern to a loved one in a deeply profound way, while acting as a lasting visual legacy.”

Anyone looking for more information, or wishing to speak to Steven, can call him on 01903 706300 or email [email protected].

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