Creating a sense of place with art created by people living with dementia

Posted: 22nd June 2026

“We wanted to celebrate what the space would be used for, seeing people for therapy, memory assessments and cognitive stimulation groups, but also to make the space dementia friendly and grounded in the community.”

Rather than filling the walls with generic prints, Ian approached Arts for Dementia for advice on dementia-friendly artwork. What began as a request for guidance evolved into a more ambitious project: a collaboration that would place people living with dementia at the centre of creating the artworks themselves. The result was the creation of a permanent legacy installation in partnership with the Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust.

A service user–led collaboration

From the outset, the aim was to ensure that the project reflected the community it served. Staff at the clinic held focus groups with service users attending the memory service to explore what they would like to see in the space. Three key themes quickly emerged: colour, conversation and connection to the local area. One idea resonated strongly: artworks inspired by local landmarks in Islington.

“The actual residents of Islington put these examples forward,” Ian said. “It demonstrated that this was a service user and carer driven project.”
The concept became ‘Our Landmarks’, a series of artworks created by people living with early-stage dementia who attended the clinic.

For Ian, the purpose went beyond decoration. “If your sense of belonging is diminishing, you need something to ground you and bring you back,” he explained. “That’s what we were trying to do.”

Creating the artworks

At Arts for Dementia we designed a short series of workshops where participants would create prints inspired by the landmarks they had chosen. The workshops were led by Melissa Fry, a local Islington print artist who had previously attended our training. Bringing in a local artist reinforced the strong community connection that had emerged during the focus groups. Participants worked with screen printing techniques, creating stencils based on their chosen landmarks and building up layered prints across several sessions. The method allowed striking images to emerge in a relatively short time while giving participants space to experiment and express their creativity. The process quickly became more than simply making images. Looking through photographs of local places sparked conversations about personal memories, shared histories and experiences of growing up in the area.

One participant, George, chose the Caledonian Park clock tower, a landmark he remembered from childhood.
“There were never any flats there,” he recalled. “It was all just land. We used to walk cattle there.”

Another participant, Jacqueline, created work inspired by Finsbury Park, a place closely tied to her relationship with her father.
“I chose Finsbury Park because it reminded me of when my dad used to take me there as a kid,” she said. “And now I take him for a walk around the park on my lunch break. I’m really glad I came to the class and created some new memories with my dad.”

For many participants, attending with a loved one made the experience even more meaningful. One carer reflected afterwards that they were simply pleased to see the change in mood the workshops brought. “I was pleased he got out of the house to attend the art classes,” they said. “He seemed happy and closer to his old self when he got back.”

From workshops to exhibition

Once the artworks were completed, we curated the final installation for the clinic. Drawing on her professional gallery experience, Roberta Mazur, Arts for Dementia’s Arts Manager, carefully selected prints and grouped them into larger framed compositions so that the pieces would have a strong visual presence within the space.

Roberta’s aim was not simply to hang artwork on the walls but to create something closer to a small exhibition. Large, framed works were installed in the reception area to create an immediate visual impact when visitors entered the clinic, while smaller pieces were placed in clinical rooms where a calmer atmosphere was needed.

Each artwork was accompanied by a label explaining both the landmark depicted and the story behind it. An exhibition introduction panel welcomed visitors, and a printed catalogue allowed people to explore the collection in more depth. The result was a space that felt entirely different from the blank walls that had greeted visitors before.

A transformed environment

The impact of the artworks was immediately noticeable. Visitors to the clinic described how the space now encouraged people to pause, look closely and engage with their surroundings. “Everyone coming together has been so heartwarming,” one visitor said. “What we see today has been so collaborative with service users, carers, staff, the voluntary sector and the art community. What has been produced draws people to engage with the space and connect with the local community.”

Even the construction team who had renovated the building were struck by the change. “It was a big team effort on the initial construction project,” one team member said. “But looking at it now with the artwork up and not just plain white walls, the whole place has been transformed and it’s so welcoming to everyone.”

At the launch event, which brought together participants, carers, NHS staff and community partners, many participants experienced the pride of seeing their artwork presented as part of a formal exhibition for the first time.

Challenging perceptions of dementia

For Ian, the project demonstrated something important about dementia care. “The space will show you what you can do despite a diagnosis of dementia,” he said. “Living well with dementia.” He also sees the project as an example of how healthcare services can benefit from collaboration beyond the NHS. “This is a really good example of service user involvement and collaboration with external partners,” he explained. “It’s not just a health project – it’s a health project enhanced by working with the voluntary sector and the arts community.”

A legacy for Arts for Dementia

The Blenheim Court project marked an important milestone for us. It was our first permanent installation of participant artwork in a public setting.
Since then, we have gone on to develop further exhibitions and legacy installations in a range of community and corporate settings, helping to raise awareness of the creativity and potential that continues after a dementia diagnosis.

Projects like this also demonstrate the wider value of creative activity in dementia care. As Ian explained, meaningful activities after diagnosis are essential. “Giving someone something to do, an occupation, a purpose, is of paramount importance in dementia care. … This project is replicable,” Ian said. “It helps people rediscover parts of themselves they thought were lost while creating new memories with their loved ones.”

Looking ahead: creative partnerships in health and care settings

The success of the Blenheim Court project demonstrates the potential of creative collaboration within health and care environments. Across the NHS and social care sector there is growing recognition that the physical environment plays an important role in supporting wellbeing. At the same time, there is growing interest in approaches that support people to live well with dementia after diagnosis, including creative activity and meaningful engagement.

Arts for Dementia can support health and care partners through:

• Expertise in dementia and accessibility
• Artist-led creative programmes for people living with early-stage dementia
• Experience of working with healthcare providers and community partners
• Support to co-create artworks and installations with service users
• Opportunities to transform clinical environments through lived experience and creativity

Projects like this demonstrate how people living with dementia can play an active role in shaping the environments where care takes place. By working in partnership with NHS services and care providers, creative programmes can contribute to spaces that feel welcoming, stimulating and connected to the communities they serve.

As awareness grows of the role creativity can play in health and wellbeing we hope to develop further collaborations with healthcare organisations, supporting initiatives that bring together artists, service users and clinical teams to enrich environments, encourage connection and demonstrate the possibilities of living well with dementia.