For the last two weeks of May, Poets Mews Care Home proudly hosted a vibrant art exhibition in collaboration with Weston Art Space.
Centred around the theme “Home”, the exhibition brought together residents, team members, local artists, families, and the wider community in a joyful celebration of creativity.
We Are One
One of the standout pieces of the exhibition was ‘We Are One’, an ongoing collaborative artwork created collectively throughout the month.
The individual blocks within the piece each represent the artist’s uniqueness, different shapes, sizes, personalities, and stories, forming a community.
The exhibition also featured a range of interactive art pieces, encouraging visitors to engage directly with the artwork and each other.
Working With Weston Art Space
Weston Art Space is a volunteer-led creative hub where artists, makers, and curious minds come together to explore ideas, share skills, and create collaboratively.
The exhibition showcased artwork created by Art Space artists alongside pieces by Poets Mews residents and team members. Visitors enjoyed a variety of creative styles including:
- Painting
- Drawing
- Ceramics
- Textiles
- Collage
- Poetry
- Models and mixed media
The Weston Art Space Artists
Cheryl Nolan – Needle Felting
Cheryl’s work explores the possibilities of textiles through the calming and meditative art of needle felting.
“Needle felting is totally addictive and gives such freedom to sculpt and paint with wool.”
Nada Magriel – Mixed Media & Collage
Nada combines paints, inks, pastels, pens, and collage in expressive mixed-media works.
Zara Lott – Textile Screen Printing
Zara’s practice centres on textile screen printing while also embracing lino printing, mono printing, dyeing techniques, and experimental mark-making workshops that encourage individual expression and creativity.
Anne Graham – Ceramics
Anne’s ceramic work includes both functional and sculptural ceramics and the special place where they sometimes intersect.
Jacqueline Braithwaite FRSA – Illustration, Textiles & Mixed Media
Working across illustration, textiles, and mixed media, Jacqueline’s practice is rooted in inclusion, well-being, heritage, and accessibility, using art as a tool for connection and social justice.
Sparking The Idea
The idea for the exhibition began with Hanjni, a Senior Night Carer at Poets Mews, who shared her passion for art with residents. Residents were eager to see her work, which led to a conversation around how residents could express themselves through art.
Hanjni wrote her wish to hold an art exhibition at the home one day and put it into the Poets Mews fairy wishing well.
Residents, team members, Art Space artists, families, and the local community all played a part in bringing the exhibition to life.
How Does Being Creative Benefit Residents?
Engaging in arts and crafts is so much more than just being a fun pastime. Creative activities can have a significant positive impact on emotional well-being, social connection, and cognitive health.
Benefits include:
- Improving dexterity and coordination
- Increasing mental well-being
- Promoting relaxation
- Supporting emotional expression
- Building social connections
- Enhancing memory, concentration, and critical thinking
Recent research by King’s College London has also found that viewing original works of art can immediately relieve stress and positively impact the immune system, nervous system, and hormone regulation.
Poets Mews Residents Involvement
Connie
Connie has loved crochet since she was taught by her sisters at just five years old. Over the years she has created blankets, cardigans, baby clothes, jackets, and countless handmade gifts.
The exhibition featured a beautiful collection of Connie’s intricate crochet doilies.
Pauline
Pauline studied teaching at Oxford College, specialising in art. Pottery was one of her favourite disciplines, and several of her ceramic pieces remain treasured keepsakes.
Her watercolours and embroidery were proudly displayed as part of the exhibition.
Andrew
Andrew discovered his passion for architecture as a teenager and went on to qualify after 13 years. His career took him from London to Malaysia, where he worked on architectural projects including homes, monasteries, and churches.
He displayed framed collage pieces using photography.
Donald
Donald shared drawings created by his grandfather Joseph, a professional artist commissioned during the war to document important London buildings in case they were destroyed.
Reflecting on his own relationship with painting, Donald said, “Landscapes are there to be looked at. Nobody else can see what I’m looking at. You can change the mood, the lighting. Painting gives me the challenge to represent something through my eyes.”
Reflecting On The Exhibition
The exhibition received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both residents and visitors.
One resident shared their thoughts, saying, “I thought it was excellent, it brought outside people in. It was a bit of fun being included in it. The whole exhibition was well worth doing. It was lovely, the artists kept coming up to me and saying how good my work was.”
A visitor commented, saying, “I have never been to such a heartwarming art exhibition. The range of different styles, feelings, and techniques reflects those who have contributed. It has to be said that Poets Mews is a wonderful, heart-centred home and a perfect backdrop to the poems, sculptures, and paintings.”
The exhibition demonstrated the power of creativity to bring people together, spark conversation, and celebrate the unique stories that make a community feel like home.
