Dean Russell MP returned to the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care to lead an art session. Dean is an accomplished artist who has painted portraits of Prime Ministers and leading figures in the community. He was delighted to be invited by the Hospice to talk to patients about his artwork and to also teach them about shading, and how to draw an eye.
The session started with Dean chatting to the patients and staff about his visits to the hospice previously, and to thank the staff for the outstanding work they do. Dean then took to his easel and explained what the piece of work was today. The group learnt about shading, and were tasked to create an eye using pencils. During the session Dean spent time with individuals to talk about their own personal piece of art, and whether they had painted or drawn in the past.
Dean said, ‘Art is for absolutely everyone. I really wanted to help the patients who joined the class to find a sense of peace by getting lost in their own personal drawing. Each person is learning a new talent or is finding a skill that they didn’t know they had by producing their very own piece of work. I am sure the artwork will be appreciated by everyone at the hospice, and will be displayed for visitors, family and friends to see.’
Alex Trotter, from the creative therapies team at Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care, said: “It was great to have Dean lead a session for our art group patients. We explore a whole range of creative activities in the art studio and this more technical session was different to what this group of patients has participated in before. Everybody who attended was really engaged by Dean’s session and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to try something different and learn new skills.”
Dean is Chairman of the Speaker’s Works of Art Committee.
