Art Exhibition at Severn Hospice to Share Patient Narratives

A patient receiving hospice care has described it as a “privilege” to present her artistic collection to the public. Wendy Brookfield’s artwork is scheduled to be part of an exhibition at Severn Hospice in Bicton, Shrewsbury, next week. She noted that each piece reflects her emotional state at the time of its creation. Having participated in creative sessions, Ms. Brookfield stated: “Every exhibit has a story to tell, and my sketchbook chronicles are a continuation of the sessions.” Becky Richardson, the Director of Care, expressed her hope that the exhibition would “break down barriers” within the community. She also extended invitations to local artists to contribute their own works. Ms. Richardson commented: “We want people to come and see us and not be scared to come and see us and enjoy the other things that we do and the things that our patients do too.” The hospice established a creative arts area in 2021. Regarding the exhibition, Ms. Richardson remarked: “This our first attempt at exploring emotions and showing how people express their feelings through art.” Ms. Brookfield shared her enthusiasm, stating: “I love art and being creative, so it is so special to be part of the hospice’s first ever art exhibition.” She further explained that the hospice’s art therapist assisted her in a “positive and supported way and concentrate on living well” to “explore emotions and challenges.” Describing her creations, she articulated: “Each is an expression of a particular day or situation, what I’m feeling or what I’m processing at the time.” Ms. Richardson also mentioned that art and creativity therapists at Severn Hospice’s Telford and Bicton locations support patients and their families in assembling memory boxes and creating casts of patients’ hands. She added: “Some people find there’s a lot of joy and they get pleasure out of painting.” The art will be open for public viewing starting 4 November. Tickets for the exhibition are priced at £7. For updates, follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites and provides information on its approach to external linking.