Grafton Way Building
UCLH Arts is committed to providing a welcoming and engaging environment that contributes to patients’ well-being. The Grafton Way Building, officially opened by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in 2022, contains more than 100 pieces of art across its nine clinical floors.
Commissioned during construction, the pieces are integral to the fabric of the building. Reflecting the clinical services within the building, some of the pieces feature patients with blood disorders, their relatives and clinical teams.
“Evidence demonstrates that views and experiences of nature can improve patient recovery rates and well-being. Art can ease anxiety and improve the overall experience of being in a healthcare environment for both patients and staff.
It has been a privilege to work with colleagues, artists and contractors to ensure that art is a significant part of the development of this wonderful new hospital building.”
- UCLH Arts Curator, Guy Noble
Lucy Gough & Eloise Renouf
UCLH Arts commissioned more than 100 original pieces of artwork for the building, including vinyl designs by artists Lucy Gough and Eloise Renouf for the critical care unit. The artworks include themes of nature to uplift, calm and distract patients.
“There is a raft of evidence showing how enhanced environments improve recovery rates for patients. Nature and views of nature are particularly impactful. The themes for the new hospital encompass nature in many forms. We have looked to artwork to uplift, to calm, to distract – this can be really effective for people in distressing or worrying situations.”
- UCLH Arts Curator, Guy Noble
About the artists
Lucy Gough is an artist living and working in Cambridgeshire and has been a practising artist since graduating from Norwich School of Art and Design.
Lucy’s prints use simple graphic lines and bold colour blocks to form a coherent style that has come to define her artistic practice. Her most recent work draws inspiration from a variety of sources including architecture and geometry.
Eloise Renouf is an artist, designer, and maker who works in a variety of media, including painting, printmaking, and collage. Her work is based on her love of strong shapes, textural mark-making, dynamic colour combinations, and clean, crisp lines.
Eloise has a degree in Printed Textile Design from Manchester Metropolitan University and has worked in design studios in both London and New York.
Alex Echo
UCLH Arts worked with American artist Alex Echo to create a permanent installation in the Grafton Way Building.
Alex Echo designed 89 bespoke pieces of artwork installed in patient bedrooms, staff areas, and waiting rooms that use abstracted and pixelated images of forests, lakes, skies, flowers, and beaches to offer an alternative view for patients and staff as well as a distraction.
The installation contributed to winning the European Healthcare Design Award 2021 for Interior Design and the Arts.
About the artist
Alex has been creating art for four decades. His prestigious career has seen him work on projects with Paul Smith, Paul Weller and the Glyndebourne Opera House and design a bespoke guitar for Eric Clapton.
The American-born philanthropist combines art history with references to pop culture and iconography. He is particularly inspired by the simplicity and boldness of stripes, citing Morris Louis (Bernstein), Barnett Newman and Agnes Martin as influences.
In 2019, Alex Echo was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Echo has worked relentlessly for various charities and institutions, working with Parkinson’s UK on an array of fundraising projects.
Alex Echo’s work also features in the Proton Beam Therapy Centre - one of the first in England – which offers ground-breaking radiotherapy treatments to patients, targeting tumours more precisely.
About UCLH Arts & Heritage
UCLH Arts is the hospital arts programme that serves UCLH NHS Foundation Trust and it’s surrounding community. UCH Arts is committed to providing a welcoming and uplifting environment for patients, visitors, and staff through a varied and stimulating arts programme. Its work aims to improve patient experience, boost staff morale, increase engagement with the arts and celebrate the Trust’s unique heritage and community.
Since 2005, UCLH Arts has worked to improve patient and staff outcomes through the arts. It does this through a rotating exhibitions programme, music performances, creative workshops, artist residencies, as well as commissioning site-specific artwork. UCLH Arts receives it’s funding from the UCLH Charity and the Friends of UCLH.
If you would like to get in contact with UCLH Arts, please email uclh.