International award-winning art and design at the Dyson Cancer Centre
Pictured above: Hamish Mackie’s Swifts sculpture – Hamish Mackie is a renowned wildlife sculptor. A pair of bronze swifts evoke the vitality of the natural world and the arrival of summer.
The RUH’s Art at the Heart team and Arcadis have been awarded a European Healthcare Design Award for the use of interior design, art and sculpture in the Dyson Cancer Centre.
The prestigious award recognises projects that demonstrate exceptional skill in creating a compassionate healthcare environment, through the use of interior design and art.
As part of the work to develop the Dyson Cancer Centre, Art at the Heart and the interior design team from Arcadis worked with patients and staff and the wider community to develop a ‘Land, Water, Sky’ theme, used throughout the building.
Thoughtful interior design, the use of natural light and over 100 artworks and art installations – many of which are influenced by the local environment – create a soothing and welcoming space, to balance the high-tech facilities housed in the centre.
Hetty Dupays, Art at the Heart Art Design Manager said: “It’s a huge honour to be awarded this accolade – we were up against some incredible projects from as far afield as Singapore and the USA, so to have an NHS building recognised in this way is really special.
“The Dyson Cancer Centre provides care for people and their loved ones at a difficult time in their lives. Our aim was to bring ‘the outside in’ as we know what a difference a calm, welcoming space, focused on nature can make. We’ve incorporated natural light, external spaces, greenery and artwork, all of which are known to have a positive effect on healing and patient experience.”
“We’ve been so fortunate to work with an incredible range of artists and designers, both local and international, to create an exceptional space. The feedback we have had has been really positive – patients tell us what an uplifting environment it is.”
“We’ve also been very grateful for the support we have received from our community, including Steve Rose, who acted as our patient representative and volunteer arts advisors Lucy Wildman and Diana Latham, who were also instrumental in raising funding for the art programme at the Hope Ball charity auctions.”
Natasha Clutterbuck – Somerset based Natasha Clutterbuck’s hand-painted murals on the ‘Forest Garden’ in the Macmillan Wellbeing Hub focus on pollinators, symbolising regeneration and growth, resonating with patients’ journeys.
The majority of the art works in the centre have been funded by the RUH’s official charity, RUHX, as part of an innovative and aspiring arts programme which delivers exhibitions, live music, and creative activities, for patients, visitors and staff at the Royal United Hospitals Bath.
The centre was also supported by individual donors, who funded works such as Hamish Mackie’s ‘Swifts’ sculpture. The sculpture of swifts in flight is the focal point of a specially designed courtyard which allows patients the opportunity to spend time outside, even if they are unable to leave their hospital bed.
Many of the artworks can been see on the Art at the Heart website, along with an Arts Map and accompanying booklet ’Art Stories’ which was designed by Bath Spa University graphics student, Ella Smith. ‘Art Stories’ is also available in the Dyson Cancer Centre.
Artists featured in the permanent display found across the Dyson Cancer Centre are:
- Kate Bond: Green Heart Garden. (3 commissions)
- Natasha Clutterbuck: The Forest Garden
- Dornith Doherty: Husk Corn
- Diedre Dyson: Bullrushes
- Chrystel Lebas: Sensing woodland by Chrystel Lebas: video projection, 8 channels
sound. (Sound designer, Paul Ricardson) - Chrystel Lebas: Plant Portraits (photograms)
- Hamish Mackie: Bronze Swifts
- Heidi Morstang: Deep Time Ammonites and various
- Bruce Munro: Time and Again (Light installation)
- Mark Sands: Bee Eaters in Olive Trees
- Amy Shelton: Honeyscribe: Botanica #2 (lightbox)
- Lisa Todd: Ubuntu Collection
Since opening in spring 2024, the Dyson Cancer Centre has supported the RUH to provide the highest quality of cancer care for around 340 people a day from Bath, Wiltshire and the wider South West community.
