We’re delighted to have partnered with the prestigious Ingram Collection to bring a small part of their extensive collection, spanning over 100 years of British art, to care homes in the South East.

Building on our previous research and work with older people, Beside the Sea is a touring exhibition that has been specifically designed to provide the most benefit to a care home setting. The artworks are inspired by the sights and sounds of the British coast. They explore our connections to the sea - where people live, work and relax.

As an island nation, we have a particularly close relationship with the sea: it plays a vital role in our heritage and national identity. From coastal communities and family holidays, to historic events, and as a natural environment, the sea can mean different things to different people. We hope the exhibition will help care home residents reminisce about their own experiences of the sea and their local landscape.

Hebrides by Donald Hamilton Fraser

The artworks in Beside the Sea are on loan to Paintings in Hospitals from the Ingram Collection, the largest privately owned publicly accessible collection of Modern British and Contemporary art. The collection features a broad range of artists, including works by Dame Elisabeth Frink, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, Geoffrey Clarke, Lynn Chadwick, Edward Burra, Keith Vaughan, and Dame Barbara Hepworth. The Ingram Collection is committed to making its artworks widely available for both enjoyment and educational purposes, making them a perfect partner for Paintings in Hospitals.

Throughout the Beside the Sea exhibition we will also be providing and facilitating opportunities for residents and staff of the care homes to explore the themes of the show through a number of creative activities.

Ben Pearce, Director of Paintings in Hospitals, said:

We are really grateful to Chris Ingram and the Ingram Collection team for the chance to work with this amazing collection and I want to say a big thank you to everyone involved in making this happen.

If you want to know more about this project or need advice on impactful artworks for your care site, get in touch...