Creative residents across our Hampshire and Dorset care home’s have gone hands-on to celebrate a day devoted to visual art.
Our care homes in Poole, West Moors, Mudeford, Sherborne and the New Forest co-ordinated a host of activities inspired by the annual Unesco World Art Day.

There were talks and demonstrations by professional artists, pottery and painting sessions, in-home exhibitions and trips out to see art on display in the community.

At Brook View in West Moors, residents welcomed New Forest-based equine illustrator and author Alan Langford who arrived with easels, paints and brushes ready to give a tutorial.

At Brook View in West Moors, from left: resident Trevor Clark, visiting artist Alan Langford and residents Iona Midlane and Barbara Phillips

Resident Barbara Phillips said she couldn’t wait to show her daughters the picture that Alan helped her with, adding: “I was in awe at how much I’ve learned about art through the course of the afternoon.”
Companion Jo Vardy said: “One of our new residents, Janet White, was so taken with Alan’s style of painting that after a short demonstration on how to paint a landscape, complete with pony of course, she immediately got brush in hand.
“As our residents’ pictures began to take shape, Alan was keen to see the different interpretations and styles used to achieve the final results.

“Everyone had a fabulous and informative afternoon, enthralled with Alan’s stories of the characters he has met throughout his painting career.

“It was lovely to see all who attended laughing in such a relaxed manner. It just goes to show that, no matter your ability, anybody can enjoy and appreciate art.”

Meanwhile, artists from the Christchurch-based pop-up pottery studio The Touring Potter helped residents of Belmore Lodge in Lymington to make and colour clay coasters.

Hands-on at a pottery session at Belmore Lodge in Lymington

At fellow Lymington home Court Lodge, the dining room was transformed into a gallery of work by visiting artist Marion Royle to complement a talk by her.

Resident Barbara Runham, who used to work at Southampton City Art Gallery, said: “Marion is a fantastic artist and bringing all this work here and turning the room around is incredible.”

At Avon Reach in Mudeford, Christchurch, residents were treated to a visit by artist Paul Dolman, known for his fine oil paintings of the local area. Paul gave a demonstration of how to use oil paints during a community ‘tea and togetherness’ afternoon.

At Canford Chase in Poole, the fun centred on the garden with residents making willow hearts and frames which they put on display.

And at Bourne View in Poole, team members organised a minibus trip for residents to the St Barbe Museum in Lymington, complete with lunch and a visit to the gift shop.

With completed paintings at Brook View, from left: residents Pam Roberts, Janet White, Trevor Clark, Pam Clark, Iona Midlane and Barbara Phillips

Resident Wendy Barnes, a former teacher, said: “We enjoyed quietly browsing among the paintings and sculptures, noticing unusual techniques. It was a trip full of ideas and a day to remember.”

World Art Day has been celebrated internationally every year since 2012 on the April birthday of renaissance genius Leonardo Da Vinci.