Dorset County Hospital children's ward brightened with new mural

The artwork features tigers, frogs, fish, penguins and more

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 19th Oct 2023

A new vibrant mural's been created for Dorset County Hospital's children ward, in less than a week.

Artist Marina Renee-Cemmick , who grew up in Dorset, has painted the work on the wall at the Kingfisher ward.

She got help from the staff and patients to put it together, featuring tigers, rainforest frogs, fish, octopi, penguins and of course a kingfisher!

Marina said:

“It was really a pleasure to do and a joy having everyone involved. I would not have managed to do a 50 ft wall in four-and-a-half days without them! It was wonderful to see how much it means to everyone, and how engaged the children and staff were.”

Staff on Kingfisher ward helped with the painting of the new mural

Sarah Woodward, Kingfisher Matron said:

“Everybody (on the ward) got involved and had a go, we felt a real part of the project. We have a consultant who loves penguins, so Marina added a penguin in for us!

“It’s lovely to see young people coming through the corridors pointing at all the different animals and counting them. It creates a really positive feel for everybody on the ward.”

This artwork was made possible by the generous support of The Arts Society, Dorset County. They've said:

“The charitable aim of the Arts Society is to support the arts and we in the Dorset County branch are delighted to fund the new mural in the Children’s Kingfisher Ward. We knew from the outset that Marina Renee-Cemmick’s creativity would not disappoint, as we have supported her studies and amazing talent in the past.

"We could not be more pleased to see this mural come to fruition, and to know that it will give pleasure for ongoing years to the many young patients who will visit Kingfisher Ward. It gives us particular pleasure too that the ward staff have been so invested in this project.”

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