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Dec 2024
Harrogate artists spread festive cheer with hospital mural
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Three Harrogate artists have turned hospital windows into a winter wonderland.
Sarah Marsh, Georgina Benson-Green and Louisa Skinner today painted a festive scene on the windows of Harrogate District Hospital’s main entrance.
Ms Marsh, or Murals by Sarah, told the Stray Ferret the trio were given a brief to create a winter wonderland that would be suitable throughout December and January.
Her third of the window depicted a forest setting with a fox, a barn owl and a bird. “I really enjoy drawing animals”, she said.
Ms Marsh added:
We’ve all done quite a few Christmas windows over the last few weeks. Someone from the hospital had seen one of them and contacted me about doing something here.
It’s to cheer people up and make them smile over the Christmas period.
Sarah Marsh's section of the window.
The women, who have never worked on a project together before today, brought the mural to life using acrylic paint and Posca marker pens.
It took around two hours to create and the artists worked for free. They said the project was a "goodwill gesture".
Ms Marsh said:
We’ve had a lot of lovely comments. People were surprised we all did it freehand and how quickly we did it.
The full mural.
Ms Benson-Green, otherwise known as The Harrogate Illustrator, created the snowy centrepiece of the window display.
She painted a large tree, set between two smaller fir trees, with a star on the top.
Ms Benson-Green said:
I wanted to get involved in this because my mum passed away this year. She was in here for 10 days then she went to Saint Michael’s Hospice – I’ve done their windows too. Coming in and out of here doesn’t have good memories, and if people are losing someone or going through hell, you can come outside and see something calming.
Art is a therapy, and I hope the mural will inspire people to start.
Ms Benson-Green told the Stray Ferret it was important for her to spread a bit of joy, adding if the mural makes people smile then the artists have "done their job".
Georgina Benson-Green's section of the mural.
Alongside art, Louisa Skinner - also known as Louisa Loves Painting – has a part-time job at the hospital’s child development centre.
She told the Stray Ferret she wanted to be part of the project to help children coming to the hospital over the Christmas period.
Ms Skinner said:
I just think of the kids that come in and I want to spread Christmas cheer for them. They can come in and they’ll be greeted by this mural throughout December and January.
Ms Skinner’s window depicts a wintery scene with a hare and a squirrel sitting by a tree.
Louisa Skinner's section of the mural.
The artists told the Stray Ferret the mural is also an environmentally friendly alternative to sticker displays and urged people to support local artists’ work.
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