Care home residents collaborate to create artwork

Care home residents have been individually decorating tiles

Dozens of care home residents have all joined together to create a large piece of art for a regional hospital.

Individual tiles were decorated by residents from 18 homes in the Swindon area, many of whom have dementia, before being pieced together to form a mosaic which has gone on display at the town's Wyvern Theatre.

Some of the elderly residents at Quarry Mount residential care home said they very much enjoyed being part of the project.

The collaborative artwork will eventually go on permanent display at the Great Western Hospital.

The artwork has been displayed in the foyer of the Wyvern Theatre

The art, which is 2.7m x 1.2m (9ft x 4ft), will be displayed in the foyer of the Wyvern Theatre until the end of November.

The piece took two years to get up and running, bringing together dozens of residents from almost 20 homes to paint the 72 tiles.

The project was organised by the activities coordinator at the Quarry Mount home, who appealed for other care homes in the area to take part.

Ellie Lucas, from the National Activity Providers Association, said: "The collaborative project taking place in Swindon is a shining example of how the arts can bring people together, strengthen communities and help individuals feel pride in being part of something larger than themselves or a single care home."

Ms Lucas said arts were vital to wellbeing and that it had been wonderful to hear about the project as it developed.

"To then witness the unveiling at the Wyvern Theatre was truly magical," she added.

"There was a real sense of pride and community in the room from the residents whose creativity was celebrated on the wall to the activity providers who supported them and found connection with one another through the process".