Number 49 in our countdown of '70 Ways Art Improves Our Health' highlights the amazing work and support of just some of our Patrons...

We're so lucky to have an amazing group of Patrons who act as ambassadors for our charity. Our Patrons introduce us to new supporters, help us raise funds, and help increase awareness of our unique and important mission.

Our Artist Patrons include incredible British artists Sir Antony Gormley, Maggi Hambling, and Bridget Riley – all of whom have kindly donated artworks to our collection and helped us raise money for our cause.

Bridget Riley, in particular, has made quite an impact on the arts and health world. She created three spectacular murals (in 1987 and 2014) across the eighth, ninth and tenth floors of the St Mary’s Hospital, London, commissioned by Imperial Health Charity.

Chromatastic Paintings in Hospitals by Ian Davenport, 2016. Exclusive to Paintings in Hospitals.

The renowned abstract painter Ian Davenport is another of our Artist Patrons, who has first-hand experience of the need for creativity in care settings. Speaking to the Financial Times last year, he said: “When my father passed away, the hospital was really grim: clinical, alienating, unfriendly, neglected… For an artist interested in colour, the bleakness of the surroundings just made the whole experience even more terrible. Yet there’s increasing evidence that being around art can be amazing for people in terms of the way it can help make them feel better.”

In 2017, Ian also generously produced a limited print edition for our own Patrons Circle to help raise money towards our charitable mission. The vibrant print was immensely popular and the edition of 100 completely sold out, raising £45,000 to help us support patients and carers across the country.

Did you know our Royal Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales has also been painting for most of his life? He kindly donated a beautiful watercolour landscape to our collection.

Beyond practicing artists, our generous Patrons include Lord Browne of Madingley, Roger Phillimore, Lord Chartres, Dr Richard Cork, and Dame Stephanie Shirley. As a mother of a son with autism, celebrated philanthropist Dame Stephanie has personal experience of the power of art. She donated a large body of incredible artworks to our collection that were specifically selected to appeal to people on the spectrum, and kickstarted our Art & Autism loan programme.

We look forward to working with our newest Patron, artist and writer Edmund de Waal, who joined us this year.

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