Art as therapy: ‘Painting is good for the soul’

How Steve Davis uses painting to help Marie Curie patients discover new talents, forget their illness and achieve something amazing

There’s a kind of calm that comes over Marie Curie’s Hospice in Bradford whenever Steve Davis is there with his palettes and brushes. Here people busily put paint to canvas, creating all kinds of beautiful pictures, from watercolour landscapes to bright and bold portraits.

Their work is unique, but what everyone in the room has in common is that they are living with a terminal illness. By creating a piece of art with Steve they have a chance to forget their illness, try something they might not have done before and dive into a totally different world, if only for a few hours.

Steve (65), a professional artist, offers art as therapy as one of the complementary types of care offered by Marie Curie hospices. Three times a week, he teaches groups and individuals using a step-by-step approach which the patient then follows. This way he says everyone can create something, even if they haven’t done art since their schooldays.

“People can be self-conscious at the start but I guide them and bit by bit they build up their painting,” says Steve, who

‘The art gives patients a chance to relax… and do something that’s totally disconnected from their illness’

also adapts his teaching so patients with limited mobility or conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease can join in.

During the sessions, the art gives patients a chance to relax, chat with Steve and do something that’s totally disconnected from their illness. Take Peter, a patient who was so inspired by what he learned in Steve’s class at the hospice day centre he painted all day every day at home. “I often told him we had unleashed a bit of a painting monster in him because of the amount of work he produced,” laughs Steve. “But he told me that when he painted he felt no pain and forgot to hurt. That shows me what a wonderful distraction this can be for people.”

Many of the works Steve’s patients have produced have gone on to be displayed in calendars or at special exhibitions. “We even had 13 pieces of patients’ art recently displayed at the Royal Academy in London which was an amazing achievement,” says Steve.

But this work of art isn’t just something the patient can enjoy. Steve says families really appreciate the opportunity to see their loved ones absorbed in this way and creating something that will be there, even when the person no longer can be.

“When the patient sadly passes away, I always hand the artwork over to the family, many of whom say it brings them a lot of comfort,” says Steve. “It’s like the legacy of their loved one but also something they know their loved one so enjoyed doing while they were here.”

■ If you or someone you know is affected by terminal illness then Marie Curie can help. Whether that be through art therapy or speaking to a nurse for information and emotional support, call on 0800 090 2309 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/help