Cancer services boost from art exhibition

The exhibition and sale ‘Spring Art Exhibition’ will be hosted at Swan Hill Art Studios in Shrewsbury, showcasing the work of internationally renowned artist John Wragg, as well as pieces created by cancer patients and survivors.

It is taking place over the early May Bank Holiday weekend with a special invite only preview on Thursday, 30th April. There will also be an opportunity for people to hear from the Telford based artist himself in the ‘Intimate Conversation with John’ event.

The fundraiser is being organised for Lingen Davies Cancer Support which is currently running a £5million appeal to deliver cancer services into Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital. Working in partnership with the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital’s Trust, the appeal will see the creation of the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at PRH. It will double the provision of chemotherapy across the region, as well as having urology, lung and outpatients clinics. All services will be in addition to those on offer at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital where most cancer patients throughout Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and Mid Wales are currently treated.

Swan Hill Arts Studio opened in 2024, delivering a community arts space. It is one of the recipients of Lingen Davies’ £150,000 wellbeing programme and hosts art therapy classes for people living with and beyond cancer. They are free to access for those living with a cancer diagnosis in the county and Mid Wales and take place in Shrewsbury, Newtown and Telford.

Sam Pooley-Stride, founder of Swan Hill Arts Studio, said the exhibition will be a ‘fitting tribute’ to the many talented local artists who have kindly donated their work to the cancer charity.

“We are proud delivery partners for Lingen Davies and have welcomed dozens of people living with and beyond cancer through the doors of the studios. Art is a truly therapeutic activity, and I know from meeting attendees how much they have valued their time here.

“I am honoured to be able to give something back to Lingen Davies by opening up the studios for this exhibition and sale of some truly unique pieces,” she added.

Emma Backhouse, Chief Operating Officer for Lingen Davies said: “We were delighted to be approached by John Wragg a few years ago, who wanted to discuss leaving his art to the charity. John has his own cancer experience and wanted to share that with the wider public, he has donated all his work, much of which is already on display in Shrewsbury’s Lingen Davies Cancer Centre.

“Over the last few years, we’ve had work donated to us from a wide range of talented individuals all keen to express their cancer experience through art.

“This collaboration with Swan Hill will showcase particular works that tell an individual’s own cancer story, as well as raising awareness about Lingen Davies and its work. It is a really fitting tribute to the hard work, talent and skill of so many local artists impacted by cancer.”

The exhibition will open to the public on the morning of Friday, 1st May, with much of the work being available for sale through an online platform.

For more information on the exhibition, opportunity to meet John, and how to purchase, visit the Lingen Davies website.