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Oriel Ysbyty Gwynedd

We would like to present the first ever Ysbyty Gwynedd staff exhibition, celebrating the value of the arts and the creative talents of NHS staff.

Since 2011, Gwynedd Community Arts in collaboration with Creative Well (BCUHB Arts in Health), have provided a platform for local artists and community groups to display their work in the Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital lobby with a series of rolling exhibitions being enjoyed by visitors, patients and staff.

In a first of its kind for the Oriel Ysbyty Gwynedd, this very special exhibition of artwork celebrates the amazing creativity of NHS staff through a range of art forms including, photography, painting, digital arts, pencils, pastels, carving, and clay. Each artwork is unique and they cover a range of subjects with inspiration coming from nature, animals, landscapes, shape, colour, as well as our communities and culture. The artwork is made by staff from a range of teams and services including: Posture and Mobility, Urology, Catering, Paediatrics, Portering, Public Health, Neurophysiology, Health Records, and Care of the Elderly and includes staff from a range of occupations who are all part of the BCUHB team delivering healthcare for our patients and communities in North Wales.

Some of our artists have enjoyed lifelong creative hobbies, others have undertaken professional training, others are self-taught, and some are newly finding and enjoying ways of being creative. There are those for whom this is their very first-time exhibiting work whilst others have been creating and sharing their work for some time. Wherever they are in their creative journey, their art provides an insight into their lives and interests and shares something of the people who make up our NHS staff in North Wales, beyond their working selves.

Many of our artists share that taking part in art making provides joyful and meaningful activity, as well as an opportunity to relax, and to learn and develop new skills. There is growing evidence of the benefits of the arts for our health and wellbeing. Over time, this can benefit our mood, confidence, as well as provide opportunities to connect with others who share our interests. We can also benefit from viewing art, too, which can provide interest, stimulation and distraction as well as helping us process feelings.

We wish to thank all of our contributors who have shared their work for display. We are excited for you to see and share their fantastic artistic talents, and we hope it will inspire you to have a go being creative, too!