Spring has sprung at Singleton Hospital with new nature artworks
The entrance of Swansea's Singleton Hospital has blossomed into life as springtime arrives.
As part of the refurbishment of the area, the Swansea Bay Arts and Heritage team has commissioned a series of art works based on local plants that have traditionally been used in medicine.
The prints aim to capture the beauty of nature, offering a calm but stimulating visual experience.
The 15 images have been created by Swansea-based artist Carly Wilshere-Butler, using an alternative photographic process called cyanotype, that harnesses UV rays from the sun to produce delicate, X-ray-like images. The technique was pioneered by Anna Takins, the first female photographer to use cyanotype to record botany in the 1800s.
Carly’s personal experiences as both a visitor and patient have influenced the project.
Carly said: “I have sat in a visitor's chair, gazing into the artwork in the room, while tentatively waiting for good news.
“As well as on occasions being a patient myself. This project was very important to me as a way to give back to everyone who has helped me and my loved ones.”
The images aim to aid people's wellbeing and recovery. Most of the plants used to create these images have traditionally been used for medicinal purposes, some leading to the development of medicines in use today, such as nettles, sage and ginko. These plants were handpicked locally from Petallica Flower Farm CIC in Dunvant, and Bramble and Nettle CIC in Penmaen.
Carly said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Johan Skre and Fiona Edwards of the SBUHB Arts & Heritage team and Elaine Lewis, Service Manager for Hospital Operations, Singleton Hospital. Thank you to Ceri Gimblett, Service Group Director”.
Ceri Gimblett added: “The whole area is now so bright and welcoming, I really hope visitors and patients alike enjoy the new artwork that has really brightened up an area that was looking sad and tired. I really appreciate the artist's work and hope it makes people smile like it made me smile when I first came across it this morning.”
The commission was funded by Swansea Bay UHB's Arts and Heritage charitable funds with money raised from art sales in Singleton Hospital.
Fiona Edwards from the SBUHB Arts & Heritage Team said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Carly and see this commission come to fruition, particularly when it is funded purely from sales of art in OPD and Ward block galleries. I have been overwhelmed by the positive response to the project.”
To add a digital dimension to the artworks, Swansea Bay's UHB Arts and Heritage have also worked with the Swansea Bay Health Charity to create a website with more information about the artworks and a video showing Carly’s process, available via a QR code and link in the foyer.
Main picture: Singleton site manager Elaine Lewis, Associate Service Group director Gareth Blandford volunteer Fiona Edwards, Arts in Health coordinator Johan Skre, and artist Carly Wilshere-Butler with the latter's artwork which is on display in Singleton Hospital reception.
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