Our Impact

We bring the highest-quality artwork and creative activity into mental health spaces, working with acclaimed artists to catalyse a fundamental shift in the way we consider and treat people with the most difficult of mental health diagnoses.

Colourful mural with patterns of flowers, waves, and hearts, accompanied by the text "HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW" on a building's interior wall.
Yinka Ilori, Atrium, Springfield Hospital 2023. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Damien Griffiths)

2023 at a Glance

13

Hospital Rooms Transformed

36

Artists Commissioned

1000+

Service User Participants

120+

Creative Workshops

13

Hospital Rooms Transformed

36

Artists Commissioned

1000+

Service User Participants

120+

Creative Workshops

The Art Of Happiness

 

This film shows the extraordinary artworks created for locked mental health units by world-class artists and their impact. “Our patients have loved this process. Some, who have never before engaged in art have cut their leave short to attend sessions, others have wept tears of joy, described the workshops as ‘the best day of their lives’ and told us the sessions have eased times of utter despair.” – Staff Member, Hellingly Centre

Art Will Transform Us

 

This film follows Artist and Hospital Rooms Co-founder Tim A Shaw working with patients to create a large-scale mural for the Hellingly Centre – a forensic hospital in Sussex. The mural is inspired by the narratives of the people who use the space and draws on the heritage of the local area of Hastings. It is intended to remind patients of the power they find within them and the rich histories that they can be a part of and take a hand in creating.

Beauty in the Overlooked

 

This film introduces artist Harold Offeh’s work at Eileen Skellern 1 (ES1), a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit for women in London, UK. ES1 provides semi-secure hospital care for women who have severe and on- going mental illnesses. Harold worked with patients at the unit to create photographs of the rainbow effects created when engine oil and rainwater mix together on paving. His striking and transformative artworks remind us of the possibility for the everyday and overlooked to be spectacular and beautiful.

Testimonials

“The Hospital Rooms project is one of those rare initiatives that seamlessly combines first-rate artists and real engagement with the patient and caregiver community to go beyond mere pleasant decoration. They transform austere patient holding areas into nurturing and healing environments, respecting not only the art and the science, but the essence of compassion which unites the two.”

Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead, World Health Organisation

“Hospital Rooms brings art to those most in need of what it can bring: 
hope, a view of another world and healing.”

Stephen Felmingham, Head of School Critical and Cultural Studies, Plymouth College of Art

“This project has helped to free individuals from the perceived shackles of detainment, diagnosis, risk and hopelessness.”

NHS Staff Member, Northside House

Our co-design approach

Research and Development

We learn the needs, challenges and preferences of our collaborators to craft project aims, artist selection and creative programme design.

Several people seated at a table engaged in arts and crafts with colored paper, glue sticks, and coffee cups.
Chantal Joffe, The Newlyn Exchange Community Workshop, 2023. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Rhona McDade).
Several people seated at a table engaged in arts and crafts with colored paper, glue sticks, and coffee cups.
Chantal Joffe, The Newlyn Exchange Community Workshop, 2023. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Rhona McDade).

Co-Production Workshops

Artist-led art workshops for service users and staff conjure new ideas on how mental health services should look and feel.

A group of people are walking outdoors holding up a large, colourful, serpent-like structure made of fabric and other materials. Trees, a greenhouse, and blue sky are visible in the background.
Linda Bell, Share Garden Workshop, Springfield Hospital, 2023. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Phoebe Eustance).
A group of people are walking outdoors holding up a large, colourful, serpent-like structure made of fabric and other materials. Trees, a greenhouse, and blue sky are visible in the background.
Linda Bell, Share Garden Workshop, Springfield Hospital, 2023. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Phoebe Eustance).

Installations

Artworks are fabricated that are awe-inspiring and relevant to those who encounter them.

A person with wavy hair tied up in a green hair, wearing an orange sweater is seen from behind painting a colourful, abstract mural on a large wall. The painting features pastel colours and outline sketches of hands and faces.
France-Lise McGurn, Northside House Social Hub, 2021. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Damian Griffiths).
A person with wavy hair tied up in a green hair, wearing an orange sweater is seen from behind painting a colourful, abstract mural on a large wall. The painting features pastel colours and outline sketches of hands and faces.
France-Lise McGurn, Northside House Social Hub, 2021. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Damian Griffiths).

Public Programme

Ambitious local and national public exhibitions celebrate the contributions of all those involved in our projects. We attract widespread national and international press coverage including the Guardian, the New Yorker, the FT, and BBC.

A diverse panel of four people sits on a stage in front of an audience, engaged in discussion. A screen beside them displays an image of a group of individuals. The room is brightly lit and decorated with various plants and art pieces.
A diverse panel of four people sits on a stage in front of an audience, engaged in discussion. A screen beside them displays an image of a group of individuals. The room is brightly lit and decorated with various plants and art pieces.

Legacy

Our Digital Art School and partnerships forged with local cultural organisations and artists provide ongoing artistic opportunities for service users and staff.

Two individuals are painting on a large white sheet laid on the ground. One person, with curly hair, sits on the ground while the other, standing, hands over a paint bucket.
Ikon Gallery Slow Boat workshop, Sandwell CAMHS workshop, 2023. Photo © Hospital Rooms
Two individuals are painting on a large white sheet laid on the ground. One person, with curly hair, sits on the ground while the other, standing, hands over a paint bucket.
Ikon Gallery Slow Boat workshop, Sandwell CAMHS workshop, 2023. Photo © Hospital Rooms

Impact Evaluation

Collaborations with The Baring Foundation, WHO, university and NHS partners support us to evidence our impact and influence the wider sector.

A spacious, brightly lit room with large windows and colourful abstract art covering the walls. The room features multiple seating areas with assorted chairs, a table with stools, and a piano. Skylights provide additional natural light.
Service User Artwork, Northside House Social Hub, 2021. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Damian Griffiths).
A spacious, brightly lit room with large windows and colourful abstract art covering the walls. The room features multiple seating areas with assorted chairs, a table with stools, and a piano. Skylights provide additional natural light.
Service User Artwork, Northside House Social Hub, 2021. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Damian Griffiths).

Are you a service user, NHS staff member, or artist who has been involved in a project with Hospital Rooms? We would love to hear from you about your experience. If you’re interested in being a guest writer for our blog, please email us at info@hospital-rooms.com.

150+ Hospital Rooms transformed since 2016

400+ unique artist-led creative workshops

4000+ service user participants engaged

160,000+ Digital Art School viewers across 38 countries

Webby Award, People’s Voice Winner (2021)

100+ acclaimed artists commissioned

Académie des beaux-arts European Award (2023)

Work with us

Hospital Rooms collaborates closely with service users and communities, placing them at the heart of our work. This participatory framework ensures that everyone involved feels seen and heard. Whether you’re an artist, NHS worker, or looking for your next job or corporate partnership, discover how you can work with us.

Learn more
An abstract painting featuring colourful, loosely drawn lines and patches of pastel shades. The image includes outlines in blue, yellow, and pink, with a central figure-like form and a small white geometric object attached to the canvas.
France-Lise McGurn, Northside House Social Hub, 2021. Photo © Hospital Rooms (Damian Griffiths).