Colourful artworks bring grounds of East Lothian Community Hospital to life

The installations are part of a £500,000 art and therapeutic design programme aiming to bring to life the interior and exterior of the new building.

Sculptor Kenny Hunter, who grew up in Musselburgh, drew inspiration from his memories of the county and was influenced by the important role animals play in East Lothian.

His pony sculpture, which has already become a favourite among patients at the hospital, represents the miners who used the animals in the past, as well as the ponies that help with land management at Traprain Law.

Pony by Kenny Hunter

Meanwhile, the greyhound sculpture represents the former dog track at Wallyford.

Alex Allan, from Glasgow, is also responsible for a range of colourful structures in the grounds of the hospital.

They were designed with the prime purpose of being used by patients as part of their physical rehabilitation.

Alex worked closely with the physiotherapy department to ensure the structures provided a real benefit to patients in their recovery, as well as bringing something unique to the new hospital.

Alex’s sculptures invite people to navigate a series of physical structures, encouraging movement and therapeutic use of the outdoor space.

Beam by Alex Allan

They include, Bar, a structure which can be used as a walking aid, and Block 2, a series of blocks intended to be used as a meeting area.

Kenny’s sculptures were installed in January and Alex’s artwork in November – the two artists’ sculptures are the only ones accessible to the public externally.

Smaller works in development by Andrea Geile are on display in the mental health garden but these are only accessible to patients and staff.

The unique artwork in the gardens of the hospital have caught the attention of people visiting the hospital for their Covid-19 vaccines.

READ MORE: Animal sculptures to find a home at new hospital

NHS Lothian, Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation and Round Table Projects, alongside patients and staff, participated in selecting artists for a range of commissions designed to flood the hospital with artworks working to inspire, intrigue and comfort people spending time in the building.

The cost of the art and therapeutic design programme for the hospital was £500,000, provided through charitable funding from Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation as part of an ongoing strategic art in health and wellbeing programme called Tonic Arts.

Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation is the official charity of NHS Lothian, working in strategic partnership to improve the health and wellbeing of people across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

The Tonic Arts programme improves and supports health and wellbeing through participatory and live arts programmes, art exhibitions on hospital sites, a diverse art collection for staff, patients and visitors to enjoy, and extensive art and therapeutic design commissioning programmes, including artwork for East Lothian Community Hospital.

Arabella Harvey, from Round Table Projects, project-managed the commissions and developed an arts strategy for the site after a public consultation involving a series of in-person events and online questionnaires.

From this, artists were identified for the site.

Block 2 by Alex Allan

A commissioning team was put in place that included patient representatives, members of the community and staff.

Kenny and Alex were chosen after interviews with the commissioning group.

Throughout the commissioning period, all the artists worked with staff and community groups to explore ideas, identify the direction the works would take and develop detailed proposals for their sites.

Kenny also visited local schools to teach sculpture workshops.

Diane Ellis, communications and marketing manager for Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation, said: “Going to hospital can be stressful for patients but having a welcoming environment can make it feel less daunting – and that doesn’t just count for the interior environment.

“Having these sculptures outside as well also helps give patients and their families a comforting feeling on their way into the hospital.

“Arts in healthcare environments can reduce the levels of medication people require and can alleviate stress, as well as shortening the length of hospital stays: improving the wellbeing of staff and patients means improving the overall efficacy of the hospital.

“Evidence shows that harnessing the arts in healthcare contexts contributes to reduced drug consumption, shorter hospital stays, improved mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, a reduction in violence and aggression, increased job satisfaction and higher staff retention rates and a better quality of service.”

And the new sculptures are already proving popular.

Jean and David Lumbard, from North Berwick, spotted Kenny’s greyhound sculpture in the gardens when leaving a scheduled appointment last Wednesday.

Dog by Kenny Hunter

The dog lovers were intrigued by the sculpture and its relation to the county.

Jean said: “We are big dog lovers and spotted the sculpture and it looked attractive so we went over to have a look to see if we could find out some more information about it.”

David added: “We were visiting for an appointment and immediately spotted the sculpture when we were leaving the hospital and instantly your mind is off the hospital and onto the artwork.”

The couple were interested in finding out more about the sculpture and added that it would be nice for the artwork to have plaques with further information about the artist and their work.

Jane Jones, from Haddington, spotted the greyhound when attending the hospital for her Covid-19 vaccination.

She said: “Our family has given homes to various rescued sighthounds over the years, most recently a Spanish galgo Moksha, so it was lovely to come across this beautiful sculpture which looks just like him whilst at the hospital the other day for my Covid jab.

“There’s something about sighthounds that just exudes calm, with one of our old greyhounds having been a registered therapet.

“So it was just lovely so find one depicted in this setting.

“I enjoyed looking at Kenny’s other animal sculptures in the hospital grounds too, but it was the sighthound one that stood out to me.”

Kenny Hunter visited local schools to conduct sculpture workshops with pupils

Jenny McCandless, 27, a mental health support worker, said that a number of patients and visitors went up to and photographed the artworks.

She said: “They attract a lot of people and I have seen lots of families with children taking pictures by the horse sculpture.”

Another hospital staff member said: “They are very popular and you always see people taking pictures with them, parents putting their kids by the horse for a photograph.

“They are well-loved.”

Charis Atkin, 29, from Edinburgh, works at Links Veterinary Group Small Animal Hospital opposite East Lothian Community Hospital.

She said: “This is the first time I have sat in the hospital grounds for my lunch and I instantly noticed the blocks [Block 2 sculpture by Alex Allan].

“I think they are lovely and modern in a bright location, a useful sculpture too if it’s seating.”

The art and therapeutic design programme at East Lothian Community Hospital is not yet complete.

While some works have been installed – including Alex and Kenny’s art – there will be more projects to follow, including the installation of a suspended kinetic installation in the atrium which was developed after a research project involving children from the Gifford, Haddington and North Berwick areas.

The hospital plans to conduct a reveal of the artwork once the programme is finished.

Diane added: “We are keeping a close eye on the latest government guidelines to ensure this is done in a way that allows us to celebrate the artists, the hospital and the community, whilst also being mindful of the ongoing pandemic and the need to keep everyone safe and healthy.”