Carmel College’s talented A Level Fine Art students have brought colour, warmth and creativity to the Maternity Unit at Warrington Hospital after creating a beautiful 40-foot mural for the hospital corridor.

The students spent two days transforming the previously plain, clinical-feeling corridor into a welcoming and meaningful space for families and staff.

The project was coordinated by Emma Bright, a maternity support worker at Warrington Hospital, who wanted to create a more welcoming environment for families leaving the hospital with their newborn babies.

Emma said:

“Lots of families take photographs on the corridor when they are leaving hospital with their precious newborn and, as a team, we had noticed that the main corridor was a bit plain, with quite a clinical feel.

“We came up with the idea of reaching out to local colleges and it was a great opportunity to work alongside Melissa and the students to discuss design ideas.”

The mural was created by Carmel College’s A Level Fine Art students and was inspired by artwork and ideas chosen by women and families receiving care on the maternity unit.

This made the project particularly meaningful, as families were able to contribute to the creative process and see elements of their experiences represented within the final design.

The finished mural features hand-painted flowers and flowing lines, symbolising the journey from pregnancy through to birth and the early years of a child’s life.

A particularly poignant feature is the inclusion of five intertwined butterflies, representing the one in five families who experience pregnancy loss.

At the heart of the mural is the phrase ‘Welcome to the world, little one’, which has already become a popular backdrop for families capturing their special ‘going home’ photographs with their newborns.

Emma added:

“We were also able to share the designs with families receiving care on the unit, so it was extra special and represented their journeys.

“The students were absolutely fantastic on the day and so many families have commented on the difference it has made to the unit.”

 

A rewarding experience for our students

The project provided an exciting opportunity for Carmel College’s Fine Art students to take their skills beyond the classroom and create artwork that will have a lasting impact on the local community.

Melissa Wright, Head of Fine Art at Carmel College, said:

“Painting this mural on the maternity ward at Warrington Hospital has been such a wholesome and rewarding experience.

“I am so proud of what my A Level Fine Art students and I achieved in such a short amount of time.

“We’ve already received lots of photos of families holding their beautiful newborns next to it.”

The project also gave students valuable experience of working on a large-scale commission, collaborating with a professional team and responding to the needs and experiences of a community.

Maternity Ward Manager Nikki Webb said:

“We couldn’t be happier with our new mural and would like to say a massive thank you to the students for giving up their time to complete this project for us.”

 

Making a lasting difference

The mural will remain as a permanent feature of the Maternity Unit, continuing to brighten the corridor and provide a welcoming backdrop for families for years to come.

We are incredibly proud of our A Level Fine Art students for the creativity, dedication and sensitivity they demonstrated throughout the project. Their work is a wonderful example of how art can bring people together, create positive spaces and make a meaningful difference within our local community.

A huge thank you to the team at Warrington Hospital for giving our students the opportunity to be part of such a special project.