Royal Edinburgh Hospital

At the REH Artlink have always supported the involvement of patients within creative and horticultural activity. The last couple of years we have been focused on the idea of ‘Grounds for Change’ which aims to not only provide valuable activity for the patients, but also to effect some form of physical change to their environment.

The programme responds to:

The need for activity that patients can undertake. Through a variety of workshop programmes we provide much needed activity around the hospital.

The need for patients to have non-clinical spaces within the hospital grounds. Our aim is to transform some spaces into spaces that feel much more like a home environment than a hospital environment.

Patients choices are often drastically reduced when they are in hospital, we also aim, where feasible, to increase the level of choice presented to the patient.

The need for patients peer to peer support within the hospital.

The need for some form of normalized social environment.

The need for relatives to have non clinical spaces in which to visit their loved ones.

The Green Space and Art Space PSP programme

Book of Belonging

| Artlink Edinburgh

We recently hosted a special event celebrating The Book of Belonging; a beautifully handmade pop-up book created over the past year as a reflection of the Hospital Arts programme. The book captures the spirit, colour, and energy of the summer parades within our hospital community, while also documenting the creative involvement of the many people who contribute to this work.

Held at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, the gathering brought together invited guests to share stories, ideas, and experiences, using the book as a starting point for meaningful conversation. It offered space for participants to reflect on the projects they had been part of, what creative involvement meant to them, and the importance of belonging to a supportive and inclusive creative community.

Through these shared reflections, the event highlighted how culture and creativity can bring people together, foster connection, and nurture a sense of belonging; especially during challenging times of change and cutbacks.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed so generously to these conversations.

Sea Trek Parade at the REH

| Artlink Edinburgh

All save the Whale! Don’t hurtle the Turtle! Squidy, squidy, squidy… INK, INK, INK!

Sea Trek marked the fourth annual parade to take place at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. This year we left land behind and looked beneath the waves for inspiration, transforming the hospital grounds into a celebration of sea life.

Led by Poseidon – god of the seas – the parade took form with the Wednesday Art Group as Poseidon’s shoal draped in hand-printed shell tunics and vibrant coral headdresses, Michael the Octopus, Sean the Lobster, Tommy and his Squid, alongside Wilma the Whale and a sea of tropical fish, turtles and jellyfish to bring up the rear!

 

Our route flowed from the Glasshouses, past “Turtle Beach” beside the Robert Fergusson Unit and the R.E.B entrance (where we engaged in some lively jellyfish jiving), before reaching the Community Gardens for a welcome break. Cyrenians staff and volunteers showed great hospitality as they shared refreshments and starfish scones amid competitive seahorse races. Our last stop at the Hive featured a performance of sea poems read aloud against a backdrop of delicate banners, bubbles and jellyfish bunting made in the Hive’s creative groups. 

Sea Trek was the culmination of three months of workshops with patients, staff and volunteers. Participants transformed everyday and discarded materials into extraordinary creations: curtains became tentacles, umbrellas transformed into jellyfish, cardboard excavated from the Hospital Tech Department became painted seascapes, tropical fish, seahorse placards and turtles, bedding became a whale and last year’s giant carrot was reborn as a squid!

Sea Trek parade was a celebration of all the imagination, creativity and energy of the REH community. Thank you to everyone who took part!

 

 

Summer Sessions 2025

| Artlink Edinburgh

Join us next Wednesday 6th August at 2pm for the opening of Summer Sessions 25, a celebration of art, creativity, culture, nature and community in the grounds of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital organised by the 3rd Sector Partnership and NHS Lothian Charity.

Experience a wide range of events from Alexander McCall Smith to the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, Doors Open Day at the Community Gardens, live music and DJs at Hive Stock and many more. Culminating in The Sea Trek Parade, there’s something for everyone!

Download the programme of events poster below.

Download the poster (3.8mb)

In Stitches: Anne Elliot – Forest

| Artlink Edinburgh

Anne is currently working on this forest piece and was inspired by a David Hockney painting. We think that Anne can definitely see the woods for the trees!

Anne says, ‘’The Hockney landscape paintings are vast in size and on viewing them I felt drenched in colour. They have had a lasting impact on me. It has been a challenge to break away from the original Hockney – I found myself being slavishly true to the original. I really enjoyed being unleashed with colour after monochrome Meg. Working with embroidery threads for the first time made my stitches much smaller and tighter than the wool used in creating Meg. Working in tandem with others through the ‘In Stitches’ group kept me going with this project which so easily could have joined all the other unfinished garments from decades ago.’’

In Stitches: Anne Elliot – Meg

| Artlink Edinburgh

Anne has lovingly captured her Mum’s dog Meg in this beautiful piece. As Franklin Jones said ‘Scratch a dog and you’ll find a permanent job’!

Anne says ‘’Thanks to lockdown and Laura Lees this was my first venture in sewing for 3 decades. I was surprised and encouraged by this perfect tonic to lockdown. Homemade size 12 dresses have been replaced by a pictorial interpretation of my favourite family dog Meg, using freestyle stitching. I was trying to draw with thread and fabric, enjoying the textures and working with limited resources at home. For a change I can be the one to say, I have not done this since school!’’

In Stitches: Dorothy – Bass Rock

| Artlink Edinburgh

Dorothy: Bass Rock

Dorothy is currently working on a new piece which is inspired by a painting she has of the Bass Rock. We love how she is capturing the monumental form of the rock itself. Dorothy says, “The Bass Rock is inspired by childhood memories of holidays and weekends spent in a caravan at North Berwick. I feel grateful for the knowledge I’ve received on different techniques and the sharing of ideas. It has been great via Zoom to receive weekly updates.”

In Stitches: Anna Becker – Kilimanjaro

| Artlink Edinburgh

Anna Becker – Kilimanjaro

Anna is currently working on a piece inspired by Kilmanjaro. It’s not finished yet but you can see how its progressing and we will upload images of all the finished pieces at the end of the project. From a humble teapot to a vast landscape!