FRIDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2024

Photograph attached: PICTURE OF PARTICIPANTS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, ACTIVITY COORDINATOR DONNA BELL (RIGHT) LEAD ARTIST PAMELA SCOTT AND THAT PROJECT COORDINATOR CHRIS KELLY (LEFT):

Celebration event shows patient’s creativity at Stroke Unit

A colourful selection of prints created by patients from Royal Victoria Hospital has gone on display at a celebration event in the hospital’s stroke rehabilitation unit.

The artwork, which includes monoprints, linocuts and collages was shared with family, friends and invited guests at the finale of the 12-week ST/ART programme.

ST/ART is a creative engagement project for stroke patients which is run by Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (THAT) in association with NHS Tayside and works with other stroke services across Tayside.

Artist and printmaker Pamela Scott shared her workshop and printmaking experience with inpatients in the stroke rehabilitation unit, personalising the printmaking processes to suit each participant’s abilities and interests. They received one-to-one sessions and had the opportunity to join group sessions with a more social atmosphere. Using a variety of printmaking techniques and equipment, Pamela worked closely with the unit’s activities coordinator Donna Bell and THAT volunteer artist Emma Thomson.

Activity coordinator Donna Bell said, “It’s great having the annual ST/ART project in the unit. Pamela and I work together to ensure we make the most of this opportunity for our participants. We see how the art programme helps everyone differently and it’s always impressive how much Pamela achieves with our participants. The celebration event is always good fun and our participants have the chance to share their work with families, friends and carers.”

ST/ART project coordinator Chris Kelly said, “The ST/ART project has a strong relationship with the stroke unit. Pamela is a highly experienced artist, returning for her fifth year, and is well known to the staff. Her working relationship with Donna is the foundation of the programme’s success.

“We love watching a new group of people explore different materials and processes and see Pamela take them on their own creative journeys. The group sessions really help build peer support within the unit and participants enjoy being involved which is good for their health and wellbeing.”

Pamela said, “I really enjoy working with people and the challenge of engaging them early in their recovery journey. We know they can take huge positives from being creative and it is very satisfying to see them realise it as well. Most patients think they won’t be able to create much after their stroke so I use accessible techniques that allow them to work in a quick and effective way. They are amazed at their achievements and delighted with the results.”

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138