Welcome to the Hospital Arts blog. Here you can keep up to date with the latest goings on in The Glasshouses and on the wards, find out more about upcoming events, read our archive of newsletters, access our archive of Artlink’s activities across hospitals in the Lothians over the past 30 years.
LATEST POST: GREAT NEWS!
Artist Nick Evans has been holding weekly drop-in ceramic workshops on mental health wards 3 and 17 at St. John’s Hospital, Livingston. These workshops are being supported by the Occupational Therapy Mental Health team, with whom Artlink has a long working partnership.
The workshops have been designed to encourage patients who may have little, or no experience of working with clay, to have fun, have a good experience and get a rewarding result in a short time.
The ‘picture tiles’ are made by rolling out clay slabs, using cutters or scribing into the clay to create an image in relief. The tiles are coloured with underglaze before the slabs are taken away to be glazed and fired by Nick in his Glasgow studio, then returned to the makers.
If the patients are more confident with clay or have a particular idea they want to try, Nick works with patients to realise their own vision in clay.
The class tends to bring a peaceful energy to ward 17 and I often see a more calm side to many patients at the art group while they get to concentrate on their work which feels purposeful and personal, also with the motivation of its journey to and from the kiln and Nick’s comforting guidance! Occupational Therapy
The workshops have proved very popular with patients and staff alike, everyone looks forward to Nick coming onto the ward each week and have asked that the sessions be continued. Nick ceramic workshops are programmed until the end of April 2022.
Blog Post Archive
- ALL
- Workshops
- Exhibitions
- Publications
- Events
- On the Wards
- Friends of the Glasshouses
- Lockdown Projects

Art Making Workshop
A series of art making workshops with artist Hailey Beavis at the Meaningful Activity Centre, Western General Hospital.
Workshops, On the Wards
Eden Ward’s Fish Vitrine
Textile workshop with artist Laura Lees to create an underwater diorama for Eden Ward's vitrine. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, On the Wards
Common Thread: Stitches for Survival
Common Thread join craftivists Stitches for Survival to create banner with a climate message for COP26. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, Exhibitions, Events, Friends of the Glasshouses
Common Thread
Weaving project with artist Laura Lees. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, On the Wards, Friends of the Glasshouses
Inside | Out
Casting workshops, sited work and exhibition with artist Nick Evans. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, Exhibitions, On the Wards
In Stitches
Online lockdown embroidery group with artist Laura Lees. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, Friends of the Glasshouses, Lockdown Projects
Edinburgh Landmarks Publication
Publication celebrating the creative efforts of the Edinburgh Landmarks exhibition participants. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, Exhibitions, Publications, On the Wards, Friends of the Glasshouses
Creative Hub at The Glasshouses
A variety of goings on from the Creative Hub at The Glasshouses. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, Friends of the Glasshouses
Art Games
A drawing exchange between St Johns and Liberton Hospitals. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, On the Wards
Lost for Words
A creative writing project with writer Laura Marney. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, Publications, On the Wards
Maggie’s Magical Moments
A collections of long-term friend of the Hospital Arts Programme Maggie's lockdown drawings. Click to read the blog post.
Friends of the Glasshouses, Lockdown Projects
Crafting with Joan
A collection of crafting cards created by long-term friend of the Hospital Arts Programme Joan during lockdown. Click to read the blog post.
Friends of the Glasshouses, Lockdown Projects
Edinburgh Landmarks Exhibition
A two sited exhibition within the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Click to read the blog post.
Workshops, Exhibitions, On the Wards
The Glasshouses Gardening Group
A publication of lockdown projects from The Glasshouses Gardening Group. Click to read the blog post.
Publications, Friends of the Glasshouses, Lockdown ProjectsArtlink partner in delivering the Tonic Arts Participatory Programme on behalf of the Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation.