Artbridge – Paintings In Hospitals, London 2003

A project working with older people with dementia in a residential home in West London. Helen worked on a one to one basis with residents and visited them within the privacy of their rooms. Objects were found and images were retrieved: Olivia’s image of her cherished broken cup brought her back to her forgotten acting career in Detroit as a young woman.

Paintings in Hospitals holds a unique place in the history of the arts in health sector in this country and is still the only organisation of its kind operating at a national level. Founded in 1959 and registered as a charity in 1972, its objectives are to improve the environment of hospitals and other healthcare establishments by providing original works of art on loan. Today the charity delivers this service to over 250 hospitals, hospices and other healthcare facilities across England, Wales and Ireland and benefits many millions of NHS patients, staff and visitors each year.