As part of the charity’s commitment to improving the environment of the A&E unit at St Mary’s Hospital in 2016, the arts team worked closely with clinical staff to commission a number of bespoke artworks. Artists were asked to respond to the local area and we were delighted with the results. The artists were chosen to produce artworks for specific areas of the refurbished A&E department. Fran Giffard and Emma Haworth’s works have been interpreted into lightboxes and vinyl wallpaper. Chris Orr’s in-depth study of the local area helps to distract patients in the main waiting area.
Chris Orr RA (b. 1943)
In the autumn of 2016, Chris Orr started work on his A&E commission by drawing from the rooftop at St Mary’s Hospital. His idea for the commission was for an artwork to go in the department which would help people look out and think beyond the experience of being in hospital.
Orr writes: ‘I wanted to encourage a daydream into the world outside. From St Mary’s it is possible to see the Wembley Arch, the Royal Albert Hall, the Trellick Tower, the Post Office Tower, The Shard and much more with which people could identify.’
Orr is a British artist based in London. You can find out more about his work on his website.
Emma Haworth
After spending time observing and sketching the local area around St Mary’s, Emma Haworth’s response was four stunning watercolours based on the changing seasons. These have been installed in the Major’s waiting room and converted into a vast vinyl wallpaper installation. To add to the overall scheme, Emma also produced a set of images for ceiling lightboxes, giving those with only a view from their beds a view of clouds, hot air balloons and birds. Haworth writes ‘I wanted something that would reflect the area we’re in and the people that use it.’
Haworth was born in Plymouth, Devon, and lives and works in London. View more of her work here.
Fran Giffard (b. 1987)
Fran Giffard sketches birds, both exotic and commonplace, amongst shopping lists and appointments. For the commission at St Mary’s paediatric A&E Unit, Giffard has used her Moleskine diary as a springboard, noting down her activities in the local area: visiting London Zoo, relaxing in Regent’s Park or picnicking in Hyde Park. A small selection of original diary pages are on display in the corridors whilst others have been transferred to vinyl, creating a bigger impact for the walls of the unit. Further drawings have been printed on lightboxes which are placed above each bed.
Giffard writes: ‘I hope my drawings of colourful and characterful birds along with my personal diary notes provide both entertainment and distraction from the serious surroundings of the Paediatric CDU.’
Giffard is a British artist living and working in London. Find out more here.