Project Ability artists and inpatients from Gartnavel Royal reflect on ideas of comfort and disturbance within nature, in this exhibition with Art in the Gart, at Gartnavel Royal Hospital.

The artists were invited to create artworks inspired by the wildlife and gardens. Project Ability’s walking group visited on several occasions, creating artworks both in the gardens and back at the studio.

The artworks on exhibition are a mix of Project Ability artists and inpatients at Gartnavel Royal, whom our tutor Meredith has been working with regularly throughout the year. Project Ability artists involved in the exhibition include, Martha Bose, MT Clements, Cathy Dowling, Stuart Low, Sian Mather, Simon McAuley, Ruth Mutch, Emma Shearer and Brian Skillen.

This exhibition is part of SMHAF, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. With the theme of comfort and disturb for this year’s festival, our artists thought about how nature can comfort and also how enjoying nature can cause disturbances. An appreciation of wildlife and all of it’s little creatures flourished during the time spent in the Gartnavel Royal Summerhouse Gardens! Although visiting in groups, each artist chose their own perspective to approach the project, resulting in a beautiful mix of subject matter and styles.

Project Ability and Art in the Art at Gartnavel Royal have been collaborating with each other for several years. With our tutor coming in to deliver workshops at Gartnavel, and our annual exhibition there as part of Art in the Gart, we are delighted that we can celebrate our relationship through the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival! It allows all of the artists to be involved in making and sharing their work, and there is joy in seeing it on display within the hospital, for others to enjoy.

Project Ability also has a film being shown as part of SMHAF!

Project Ability Experimental Documentary by Morag Macgilchrist, Grant Glennie, Simon McAuley, Stuart Low (Scotland, 2025) 6m

Experimental short film made by members of Project Ability’s ReConnect programme for people with lived experience of mental ill health.

Book tickets to the film event at the CCA here!

Accessibility

The event is wheelchair accessible.

Visit

Gartnavel Royal Hospital

Ground Floor, The Hub, Gartnavel Royal Hospital

1055 Great Western Rd Glasgow G12 0XH

10-5, Monday – Sunday