Bethlem tapestry celebrates benefits of art therapy

Patients, carers, staff, and volunteers at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in south London have been working on a 10 metre long woven tapestry depicting their experiences and thoughts.

The initiative is the idea of the psychiatrist Sukhi Shergill, who works in the psychosis unit, and the local artist Mark McGowan, who was a patient at the hospital from 1992 to 1998 and wanted to give something back.

“I was very ill and came to the South London and Maudsley Trust in a really bad state,” said Mr McGowan. “As a patient I was given access to the arts facilities and never looked back.”

He went on to complete an art degree and now teaches at the Chelsea and Camberwell Colleges of Art and travels the world with his art projects.

“None of this would have been possible without the help and support I was given while a patient at Bethlem,” he said. “I wanted to create a special body of work that I hope lives on at the Bethlem for years to come.”

Pictured is a panel from the tapestry showing an image created by Holly, one of the patients.⇓

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