Rachel Gannon| INK Illustrations

Throughout November and December 2009 Rachel Gannon of INK Illustration visited patients on the older adult wards at the Royal LondonHospital as part of Vital Arts’ outreach program and with the support of Kensington Palace’s The Last Debutants:  1958 Season of Change exhibition, recording the stories told by  the patients about when they were best dressed. Gannon has turned these narratives, which extend far beyond fashion to embrace issues of post-war Britain and the social change of the sixties, into a series of illustrations.  Postcards of the illustrations will be distributed to all those who participated and we, Campbell’s of London, are exhibiting full sized prints.

Gannon worked with Vital Arts, the arts organisation for Barts and The London NHS Trust.  It is charitably funded to deliver arts projects for the well-being of patients, staff and the wider hospital community. Collaboration and participation are at the heart of their work, so this project was a perfect fit.  Though Gannon initially found it challenging conversing with the patients she soon adapted and both she and the patients started chatting away.

Gannon created 8 illustrations from her visits with the patients.  They are darling little drawings that are available in a limited edition of 25.  The prints are currently on display in the gallery, but they can also be purchased from our virtual shop.  We hope that you can come and view the exhibition; Vital Arts does such great work and you can help us make it a huge success!