A hospice patient who took up painting as part of his creative therapy sessions at St Richard’s Day Hospice is exhibited some of his work at the hospice’s Wildwood Drive premises.
Terry Dagley, who was cared for by St Richard’s, regularly opened the stunning gardens at his home in Broughton Green, near Droitwich, to raise money to help the hospice continue to care for patients with life-threatening illnesses.
His ‘Flights of Fancy’ exhibition was held at the hospice with both original artworks and framed prints for sale. He had previously exhibited a ‘Spirals of Time’ exhibition at Worcester University in 2007 as well as a number of other shows, and had gathered a dedicated following of art fans.
Mr Dagley was no stranger to creativity when he first took up a paintbrush, having previously been a skilled ceramicist. Whilst attending Day Hospice, creative therapist Mary Jenkins suggested that painting might offer him an alternative artistic outlet.
Terry said; “The paintings are principally inspired by the images and colours I see during sessions of Reiki, one of the complementary therapies offered at the hospice. Other influences have been from analysing physical pains and sensations caused by my medical condition, and a lifelong interest in plants and flowers. ”
Mary Jenkins, Creative Therapist at St Richard’s Hospice, said; “Terry’s artwork was far from being ‘diversional therapy’, although the process may be totally absorbing. His art showed an astute awareness and intellectual understanding of the condition he has to confront. In his painting, we see how art meets science, how science meets complementary therapy and the whole in turn complements the art.”