It’s been a tough two years and many staff have used their creative skills to give them a little breathing space.
Now the fruits of their labours are on show in the atrium at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, as part of a new staff art exhibition entitled ‘Start Where You Are’, linked to the theme of resilience.
Staff were invited to submit digital images of their original artwork, share some of their creative hobbies and passions and explain why they feel these activities support their wellbeing and mental health (see feedback from contributors below).
The result is a diverse and eclectic collection, featuring photography, embroidery, drawing, painting, sculpture and more.
Artlink Central has been working in partnership with NHS Forth Valley to bring the exhibition, the brainchild of current Chief Residents Morven Millar, Isabella Harley and Vishali Sharma, to a colourful conclusion. Exhibitors commented that painting landscapes, sculpting pottery and picking up embroidery helped ease their worries and provided relaxation.
The exhibition will be on display until Friday 29th July 2022.
Contributors
Victoria Gibbs – Consultant Radiologist, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
Victoria submitted a piece she created for the last World Mental Health Day.
Angela Dunbar – Advanced Ophthalmology Nurse Practitioner, Falkirk Community Hospital
Angela submitted a sculpture she created during the first lock down. Entitled ‘Fighting the Inner Dragon’, “the pottery sculpture aims to show that we can all push through and allow the beauty in things to return”.
Dr Paul Woolman – Information Manager
Paul submitted a lockdown selfie.
James Reid – Specialist Advisor Speech and Language Therapist, Stirling Health and Care Village
James submitted a photography series.
“I like to go walking in the mountains to stay fit, healthy and resilient to life’s challenges. Around the winter solstice in December 2021, I went on a three day trip to the Fannich mountain range, northwest of Inverness, with a good friend. We were treated to a cloud inversion the whole time and camped up high on top of the mountains each night, covering 9 Munros along the way. It was such a memorable and exhilarating experience. They keep me going through difficult times.”
Dr Katrina Farrell – Consultant Haematologist, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
Waves at North Fistral.
“I’m a Consultant Haematologist specialising in blood cancer. I paint just for fun. I find it really mindful – I can’t worry about work when I’m painting the same way I do when I’m watching the telly for example.
“I mostly paint landscapes. I painted this piece in July 2020, so at the height of lockdown 1. I was painting in my downtime to unwind. It’s a special place to me and I wasn’t able to travel there because of lockdown restrictions – so I suppose I painted it as a way of being there.”
Allyson Bailey – Research and Development Officer, NHS Forth Valley
Blackcap and Squirrel.
“Both are part of a project I undertook back in 2012, where I went to the woods around the hospital every week for the whole year, taking photos of the plants and wildlife. I like the blackcap leaning over on that (obviously resilient!) grass stem to eat the seeds that would otherwise be just out of reach, and I also love the squirrel managing to balance on that tiny twig while reaching up to the even smaller one.
“I’d like to think that either picture could offer a message of encouragement to people and show what can be achieved even in difficult situations. I think they both show lovely examples of perseverance and resilience.”
Amy McGuire – Administration and Clerical Worker, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
The Freedom of Solitude.
Amy has been working whilst studying Contemporary Art in Glasgow, where she has just completed her final year. Amy submitted a series of watercolour paintings, exploring freedom and motivation during lockdown.
“I found freedom amongst my windows every day, they granted me permission to think freely and allow my mind to wander. I didn’t feel restricted by society anymore as I wasn’t really a part of society. I was my own freedom. I hope my work can give each viewer a moment to feel alone, to immerse themself in the layers and shadows, to let their mind wander and feel free to think whatever they want and shut off society for one minute or for how many they want. It is their freedom.”
Esther Noonan – Westburn Physiotherapy Department, Falkirk Community Hospital
Esther enjoys sewing and patchworking to help with her mental wellbeing. She submitted two pieces, one of a seascape and one entitled Japanese moonlit cherry blossom.
Kaye Mcilvar – Accountable Pharmacist, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
Kaye is currently doing a City in Guilds with the School of Stitched Textiles in Hand Embroidery and finds embroidery great for getting into a flow and forgetting about worries.
“I feel we can learn a lot about resilience from nature and looking at the Bamboo in my garden it bends with the wind and when the snowstorms come it bends with the weight of the snow but doesn’t break.”
Barry Shaw – Porter, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
Hope.
Barry, whose work is also exhibited as part of the semi-permanent ‘Rainbow Wall’ installation at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, created this piece during the height of the Covid lockdown.
Dr Anna Sutherland – Consultant in Palliative Medicine and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Glasgow University, Strathcarron Hospice and Forth Valley Royal Hospital
Anna submitted two drawings, both untitled.
“None have titles or particular information with them except to invite a response and curiosity. I’d guess the man in the hat is recently bereaved and deep in memory and emotion. The bald man is just desperately wanting to chat, engage and be with people socially in person again.”
Danielle Black – Recruitment Services, Carronbank House
Danielle has chosen to submit photographs of her dog, Bella, encouraged by a photography workshop Artlink Central organised in June for staff based across three different NHS Forth Valley sites, and led by photographer Joanne Boyle.
Scott Collins – Auxiliary Nurse, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
Scott submitted this drawing he made a few years ago, when poems and art have helped him recover his mental wellbeing.
Elaine Bell – Associate Director of Human Resources, Carseview House
North Berwick, Elie, and Isle of Mull.
During the last two years, Elaine visited a number of her favourite Scottish beaches and created these pieces all from found items.
Taylor Rice – E-Rostering Implementer (Medics), Carronbank House
Hector in Car.
“I was born into a creative family with my Mum being an art teacher and my Dad being a drummer in his teenage years. I have always had a creative flare and a passion that just grew from when I was a child until now.
“Photography was my main passion throughout high school. Being creative is a great way of being resilient as it allows you to express yourself and your emotions. It can take your mind away from the bad and can help turn the bad to good.”
