Hospice Artist Pat Darlington has long maintained that patients who paint feel better.

Comments made by the patients themselves seem to say she's right!

'My pain just disappears. I get so engrossed in my painting the pain just disappears.'

Pat believes it's because the patients look out towards the world rather than focussing inwardly on their pain.

Most of the people painting in Pat's classes have never painted before. She says 'People who have had many things taken away from them - jobs, independence, mobility - suddenly find something new that they can do and that they can be proud of. It's a great boost to their self-esteem. With Parkinson's the water colour flow helps them to stop shaking for the time that they're painting.'

Pat finds that patients tend to paint in bright colours There aren't many people who paint in sombre tone and those that do, do it because of the subject (i.e. rocks, etc.)

Pat continues 'It's nice when they're sitting in a group and chatting while they paint about what they want to paint and their surroundings. Patients will even bring in photos of places or things that they know other patients are keen to paint. It becomes a source of discussion, helping to make the people in the painting classes a community, relaxing and chatting together - and the discussion around the table is not about their illness - for a time the illness is not their main priority.'

Several times a year Pat will put a display in Reception showcasing paintings done by patients in Day Care. It always brightens the day and many people stop and take the time to enjoy them.

Just take a look and see what talented artists we have!