Rachael Howard’s residency at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital took place between 18 February – 30 March 2016. At the end of the 6-week project, Rachael had worked with elderly and dementia patients as well as ward staff. She taught them how to draw using brush pens with various imagery for inspiration.
Rachael worked with some patients on more than one occasion, which seemed to help as they were often more relaxed, keen and ready to participate. The activity also encouraged conversations and interaction between the patients sharing a ward, and between staff and patients, each encouraging the other to ‘have a go’.
Both Rachael and Bluecoat Display Centre supporting staff witnessed first-hand the positive effect of drawing with the dementia patients. Their confidence grew with the assistance of the artist and their focus and concentration improved as they worked, particularly with the brush pens provided.
“You don’t really know what you’re doing until it starts to take shape, it is interesting.”
– Participant
“Thank you very much for encouraging me to do that.”
– Participant
“This is our treat for today.”
– Participant
“Access to high quality creative experience that is not linked to clinical therapy is vital to humanising the experience of being in hospital for long periods; stimulation of imagination, ideas, the interaction that creative arts has nothing to do with illness but supports well being and individual engagement.”
– Arts for Health Lead, Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Rachael’s commissioned legacy artwork for the Royal Liverpool University Hospital was directly developed from the participants’ paintings and drawings during her 6-week residency.
Digital prints on art paper by Rachael Howard (2016)
“The outcomes have exceeded my expectations and I’m thrilled with how the patients have responded so positively to making the artwork.“
– Rachael Howard