““Hospitals are not always an uplifting and vibrant place to be, particularly for families. Arts in health provides a much needed vivacity to our spaces that our families need in times of stress. This mural will provide our space with a new warmth and colour for our staff and patients. We have already had numerous comments on how this mural provides a new life to our space.” ”

— Phoebe Webster - Dietitian at the Women's and Children's Hospital

Progress of a mural inside a hosptial coridor with colourful fruit and veggies. Watch your step and walk around.

I’ve just completed a mural for the Nutrition Department at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide. It’s been a wonderful experience painting at the hospital where I gave birth to my two boys.

The brief was to create something colourful and inspiring for their waiting room and hallway, with a connection to food, healthy eating, and also health conditions related to the department. We discussed their priority is not alway “healthy eating” because many of their patience might be malnourished and needing to gain weight. The variety of patients range from eating disorders, babies not meeting their milestones, PEG tubes and many more. The nutritionist requested that their be a connection to this and that I also consider making the mural calming for patients. So I focused on pastel colours and organic shapes. Many of their patience would find strong, bright colours a sensory overload and it was important to create a welcoming space while patience wait for their appointments.

This entire mural was painted by hand, with brush and acrylic paint. It was my first time using Resene paints for the entire project, and I was so impressed by the quality. I’ll definitely be using this brand again.

Thank you to the entire Nutrition Department, especially to Natalie van der Haak and Phoebe Webster for supporting me and making sure the whole project ran smoothly. The encouragement and kind comments as people walked past was so lovely. It was a pleasure to add colour to your workplace.

Thank you Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation for funding this project.

One extra thing I learned from this mural is… painting food makes me extra hungry! I’m craving smashed avo and eggs on toast.

Phoebe Webster painting at the Women's and Children's Hospital. — *Nutritionist -* *Phoebe Webster making her mark.*

*Photo by Nikita Skuse - Media & Communications Manager at Women’s and Children’s Hospital*

Nutrition Department at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide. Colourful mural with pears, oranges and a sunset.

Leah Grant stands in front of a food mural at the Women's and Children's hospital.

““We have loved watching it unfold over the past week. It was so therapeutic to stand and watch you paint and has brought us all so much joy. We’ve had endless comments on how beautiful and happy it is from patients and staff alike, and are so happy we get to walk past it every day.””

— Natalie van der Haak, Senior Manager at Women’s and Children’s Hospital

Waiting room mural at the hospital in the nutrition department with fruit and a sunset.