Ken White Exhibition 

Local artists work to be exhibited at Great Western Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust

 

You may recognise the work of Ken White from driving past his murals in the town centre, or for his work for Richard Branson's Virgin companies, most notably his design of the Virgin Atlantic 'Scarlet Lady'.

 

But from today the GWH will be exhibiting six of his paintings.

 

 

Featuring historical Swindon sights such as the Great Western Railway works, gas works and canal, these large canvas paintings showcase the artist’s talent for producing memorable pieces of artwork.

 

Working with Virgin

 

Ken’s work has adorned the walls of Virgin stores throughout the world, including hotels and airport lounges.

 

When Virgin Atlantic launched in 1984 he produced one of his most well-known works the ‘Scarlet Lady’ emblem which featured on all Virgin planes.

 

He has produced more than 100 murals, and has been commissioned by a number of organisations including Madame Tussauds.

 

As a boy Ken worked as a rivet hotter at Swindon’s railway works before becoming a signwriter in the carriage and wagon works.

 

“We are so pleased to be exhibiting work by such a well-known artist,"  commented Dominic Weston-Smith, Arts Co-ordinator at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

 

"The paintings are a great insight into Ken’s memories of his time on the railway, and the initial response from people within the hospital has been fantastic; the paintings really seem to have struck a chord.

 

“The use of art within hospitals and healthcare facilities has been recognised for some time now as providing considerable benefits to patients, staff and visitors, which is why we are so committed to bringing art into GWH.”

 

"I am very pleased to be displaying my paintings at Great Western Hospital," said Artist Ken White, “I feel strongly about the importance of artwork in hospital environments and the therapeutic benefits it can bring.

 

"I have produced paintings and murals for other hospitals in the past in places like Children’s waiting rooms and have seen first-hand the difference it makes.”

 

Ken White’s paintings are currently on display in the dedicated exhibition space on the ground floor of the hospital.