Welcome to Care and Creativity, an online version of the exhibition of artworks in a variety of creative mediums by undergraduate nursing students at the University of Exeter, for the module The Art and History of Nursing.

Each student has chosen a theme nursing to inspire their artwork, covering a range of subjects including wellbeing, bereavement and care of the dying, hidden conditions, stigma in healthcare, women's health, nursing - past and present, nature on prescription. The exhibition reveals, through accompanying text, the creative learning journey of each student and how they feel their artwork may have impacted upon their own and wider nursing practice, perceptions, compassion and empathy.

In addition to the student pieces there are also exhibits from Department of Health and Care Professions Patient and Public Involvement Members and other colleagues from the wider university team.

Please note the exhibition contains some challenging themes, which some might find distressing.

Theme: Hidden Conditions

More Than Tired

by a nursing student, University of Exeter

Photography

My father was diagnosed with ME when I was a child, and over my lifetime, I have watched the progression of his illness as he has gradually become less present in my life, and in his own. ME (Myalgic encephalomyelitis) is a long-term condition characterised by extreme tiredness, with symptoms such as brain fog, sleeping problems, flu-like symptoms, pain, and the worsening of symptoms after physical or mental activity, sometimes taking weeks to fully recover. These symptoms can make everyday activities difficult, and can put strain on mental health, and the ability to maintain a job and social life. People with ME often feel disconnected from a world that does not or is unable to empathise with their struggles and continues to pass them by. Historically, ME diagnosis has been stereotyped as ‘laziness’, and public opinion is still ill-informed and medically, there is still no cure for ME.

My work seeks to express fatigue in nature and in society. My photography captures moments of isolation, of disrepair, of overwhelm and of abandonment. Infrastructure left to rot; once useful items accepted as now being out of service; flooding, overflow, saturation; items unable to perform their intended function; and punished for this by threats of removal, suggestive of the quiet acceptance of allowing a demographic of people to be removed from society. Sometimes problems are identified, but simply shielded from public view, rather than fixed, representative of medical dismissal, and societal misunderstanding. My work is a collection of images that collate to paint a whole picture of the unique struggles with wellbeing of a person living with ME, and an interpretation of my lived experience as a family member of someone living with ME.

“But You Look Fine”

by Elenya Field

Mixed Media

This mixed media artwork highlights the ongoing invisible suffering experienced by people with fibromyalgia, a chronic and often misunderstood condition defined by widespread pain, fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes. The distinct contrast between greyscale and colour symbolises the disparity between the hidden reality of the condition and the masked presentation displayed to society.

On the left, a sketch of a girl hunching in pain is depicted with pins embedded throughout her body. These pins represent the nerve pain associated with fibromyalgia, commonly described as stabbing, aching, or burning sensations. The grey, smudged background conveys ‘fibro fog’, a form of cognitive dysfunction that affects memory, concentration, and mental clarity. Blue butterflies appear on this side; while the purple butterfly is a recognised symbol of fibromyalgia, the butterflies here emphasise hypersensitivity, suggesting that even something as weightless as a butterfly could cause discomfort. The colour blue was chosen for its association with low mood.

On the right, a colourfully painted figure represents the version of fibromyalgia that others may see. Due to a historical lack of biomedical evidence, many sufferers feel compelled to mask their pain to avoid stigma or disbelief. This is symbolised by the figure of a performing ballerina, who portrays a forced façade of strength and resilience. Purple butterflies appear on this side, as the colour often evokes empathy and warmth.

Historically, fibromyalgia was dismissed as a psychological disorder and frequently linked to female ‘hysteria’. Despite advancements in understanding its aetiology, stigma remains. This artwork aims to challenge these perceptions and acknowledge the profound suffering of those living with fibromyalgia and other invisible conditions.

Theme: Stigma

Lost Marbles

1st Year Collaboration with Megan Gooding, 4th Year nursing student

This interactive artwork explores the complex experience of living with dementia through themes of loss, malignant social psychology, and empowerment. It invites reflection not only on the neurological changes associated with dementia, but also on the powerful influence of social attitudes, language, and care practices. Central to the work is the role played by family members, friends, and professionals in shaping the lived experience of the individual.

You may also return the marbles, even knowing they may fall again. This reflects the ongoing commitment of nurses, carers, and loved ones to persist in care, to protect identity and dignity, and to never give up. The artwork reminds us that people living with dementia are more than their diagnosis and remain worthy of compassion and respect.

Theme: Nursing, Past and Present

Fluorescence

by Lauren Bladon

Medium: Poem

This piece reflects the way that light is used to symbolise different aspects of nursing. I chose this theme as I was intrigued by the multitude of meanings that light is associated with in nursing, specifically - passion, knowledge, hope, well-being and the origins of nursing, specifically Florence Nightingale. The images surrounding the poem are ones that inspired me during the creative process. I physically linked them and the poem together with fairy lights to emphasise the connection between them.

The poem explores the chronological ‘journey’ of becoming a nurse; the initial ‘spark of passion,’ years dedicated to studying, and the ultimate role of a nurse to provide hope and guidance to their patients. I also wanted to honour our historical origins and the legacy of Florence Nightingale’s reforms that significantly impacted modern nursing. I think that creating this piece has challenged me to consider how nurses are perceived by the public, and how that differs from my own experience of nursing. I hope that healthcare workers can resonate with the poem and see parts of their own ‘journey’ within it, and that it ‘sheds light’ on the nursing experience for those who are unfamiliar with it.

I’ve enjoyed the process of writing poetry, something of which I wasn’t confident. I found it to be a fulfilling experience, and I hope that this encourages others to experiment with creative outlets.

'Heads of Nursing' Workshop

with Dr Marie Clancy

Medium: Paper collage

Students and visitors to the exhibition were invited to create their own heads of nursing, using collage. They were asked to consider the role of the nurse in providing holistic and creative health and fill the heads with words, images and creations which demonstrate the often-invisible nature of nursing work.

Theme: Nature on Prescription

Nature On Prescription

by an undergraduate nursing student

Medium: Canvas, mixed media and wellbeing

This piece of artwork explores the potential of nature being used as a form of care not as an alternative to medicine but as an essential and often a companion to it.

This has been influenced by Florence Nightingale’s writings on ventilation and light in which she argued that opening windows and allowing fresh air into hospital wards was not simply a luxury but a necessity for healing. Nightingale (1859) wrote “never be afraid to open windows” her belief that environmental conditions are fundamental to health resonates with contemporary practices of social prescribing and nature-based interventions. This is seen in the background with a patient receiving care in a hospital setting but behind them a big open window and beautiful blue skies highlighting the importance of opening windows.

This piece was created following a placement that contributed to a significant dip in my mental health, it reflects a personal turning point following this placement where I spent time with Natural England where my sense of balance, purpose and connection were restored reinforcing how nature can support wellbeing for both patients and nurses. I was able to explore the importance of green spaces and the positive impact on health and why it’s important to encourage patients and staff to access their hospital & local green spaces (NHS Forest, 2026).

This work is bright and colourful mixed media, combining embroidery, painting and pencil drawing, this mirrors the diversity of ways that nature can support health, each medium functions successfully independently yet together they create a more resilient and holistic whole which reflects nature-based approaches working alongside medical care. The colours incorporate the colours seen within nature with the intention that the viewer feeling a sense of happiness when looking at the piece.

Theme: Women's Health

The Pause

by Sarah Trickett (PPIE member)

Medium: Card on board

I wrote this piece of writing when I saw that women’s health was one of the topics for the module. I am 44, but because of gynaecological problems, I am going through the menopause.
Before starting this process, I knew very little about the symptoms that I might experience as it’s not really talked about. At times I have found it quite debilitating and that it has affected the work that I’m able to do. The worst symptom that I experience is brain fog, which for me is not being able to remember common words, having problems following conversations if I get distracted and not being able to hold onto my thoughts for long.

The way that I have structured the poem in shot verses is meant to represent the space in my thoughts and the way that distractions can lead you away from what you are doing. I have written it in the first person so that the reader can be in the present with me an my experiences.

The steam from the kettle represents the fog clouds that ‘block’ your thoughts. I printed each word with a rubber stamp, and some words came out clearer than other. This helps to show the way that some words can be difficult to grasp at times. The title relates to both a shortened version of the menopause and the effect that it has on my thoughts.

Theme: Bereavement and Care of the Dying

Firsts

by Victoria Sadler

Medium: Watercolour on board

My mother died in November 2025 and this painting is dedicated to her.

For her one of her passions was her garden. She always detested Winter as it kept her inside and not able to be out in one of her favourite places. When Mum saw her snowdrops start to come through she would see it as one of the first signs of Spring and the ending of Winter. As part of our mother-daughter relationship we had a friendly rivalry as to which one of us would see the first snowdrop- she would invariably win.

As her daughter I have become aware of the sense of First experiences without her. Our first Christmas, our first New Year, the first Mother’s Day where I am a mother but no longer a daughter to a mother.

And indeed, my first sighting of snowdrops and not being able to tell her about it. Grief is personal to the people who experience it. We all mourn the loss of those we love in a different way. I had the privilege to care for my mother in the last few days of her life, and after her death- which as a nurse and daughter were vital to my own acceptance of her dying. This in a way helped to manage my grief. She died at home, being able to see her garden for one last time.

But it is the Firsts that I miss her and grieve for her.

Foot note- Mum’s snowdrops won again this year coming up in late January; my first snowdrop sighting was not until 2 weeks later!

Ko te wāhi e tukua ai te mate ki te noho – Where Death is Allowed to Sit

by Jasmine Davenport

Medium: Wooden Sculpture

This sculpture depicts a Wharenui, the traditional Māori meeting house of Aotearoa, New Zealand. It functions as a space for spiritual, cultural, and social gathering and wellbeing, situated upon the marae, the communal ground in which collective life and ceremony take place. The sacred wharenui holds deep spiritual and symbolic significance, with each architectural element and whakairo (carvings) representing ancestral literature and embodied meaning. From the spine of the roof to the walls themselves, the wharenui is a living form that embraces those who seek support.

Through this work, I aim to create space for healthcare professionals to engage in open discussions about death and dying and to support them in delivering compassionate care to their patients. By confronting my discomfort, I have developed a greater appreciation for my life whilst also reconnecting with my cultural identity as a Kiwi woman estranged from her homeland.

The Pain That Ties Us Down

by Francesca Greed

Medium: Watercolour on paper

The Pain That Ties Us Down is inspired by the work of Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement and originator of the concept ‘total pain’. Saunders recognised that an individual’s pain during end of life is not solely physical, but a complex experience made up of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. This holistic understanding transformed end-of-life care and continues to guide compassionate nursing practice today.

This piece reflects the idea that total pain can restrain individuals at the end of life, limiting their ability to find comfort or peace, represented through the four ribbons. The soft watercolour palette, alongside the natural light filtering into the room, symbolise the hope, compassion and sanctuary that hospices strive to provide, even in the presence of suffering.

Care goes beyond symptom management, tending to the complex intricacies at end of life: leaving behind loved ones, struggles with faith, feelings of anger or fear.

Through creating this piece, it has forced me to think differently about pain, not as something to be necessarily fixed, but as something to be recognised, understood, and held with sensitivity. By acknowledging total pain, nurses can begin to ease its weight, supporting patients and families through one of life’s most vulnerable transitions. This work gestures towards the possibility of release, where person-centred care cuts through these ties and allows space for dignity, comfort, and a peaceful death.

Theme: Wellbeing

Drowning to Diagnosis: The Struggles of ADHD in Women

by an Undergraduate nursing student

Medium: Multimedia

The multimedia piece depicts personal struggles and the struggles of other women with ADHD prior to, during, and after diagnosis. This piece displays a girl drowning in the ocean, reaching for a life ring whilst the hands of ‘demons’ are trying to pull her further under. This piece was intentionally made to be multimedia, the life ring is constructed of ADHD medication boxes sewn together to highlight the real impact medication can have, potentially being lifesaving; however, these medications have their own challenges such as prescriptions, side-effects, supply issues and stigmas within society.

The drowning girl is printed onto thin card and sewn onto material, a task which is difficult due to the high risk of tears, representing how fragile a woman with ADHD may feel. The black ‘demon’ hands have words stitched beside them which state a few of the many struggles’ women with ADHD experience, the colour of the hands is intentional due to the negative connotations associated with black.

Attention Deficient Hyperactive disorder (ADHD) in women is often diagnosed later in life and often thought to be a condition that ‘naughty’ boys have. This means women struggle for years, often being misdiagnosed for mental health conditions such as bipolar, depression or anxiety. Women with ADHD typically experience more inattentive or internal hyperactive symptoms and can mask symptoms leading to burn out, due to this healthcare professionals do not easily recognise these symptoms. ADHD, especially in women in widely misunderstood, with the media projecting misconceptions about the neurodevelopmental disorder and complicating it further.

I Unravel

by an undergraduate nursing student.

Media: Poetry, Photography I Unravel is a piece looking into the unsettling thoughts and mental health struggles nurses experience. It is a take on how our thoughts consume us and how they can get out of control. As nurses it is built into us to prioritise the care of others and with this we usually negate ourselves, we are taught to be capable and strong and help to uplift those around us.
The British Medical Journal states that Doctors and nurses were found to be twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts as the general population and five times as likely to experience depression (BMJ, 2025).

I Unravel has been created from a therapeutic and holistic approach to highlight mental health decline within health care providers, it subtly touches on the repercussions of depression, anxiety, PTSD and socio-demographic challenges in nursing.

I unravel was originally a film piece however I felt the message got lost into the production and it felt disingenuous, I transitioned to a solid medium of poetry complimented with photography to solidify the meaning of the piece and providing haunting powerful imagery of my take on mental health.

This piece has been created to challenge the societal norms and the stigma behind mental health. This piece has been inspired from personal experiences from my last placement on the emergency department.

Throughout the process of making this piece I have found and accessed thoughts and feelings which have been hidden away, I have been able to use this journey of creation and expression to help process my experience.

References Taylor, L. (2025) ‘WHO: third of European doctors and nurses have depression or anxiety’, British Medical Journal. Available at: [https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2156#:~:text=One%20in%20four%20doctors%20(28,for%20us%2C”%20said%20Kluge (Accessed: 30 January 2026)]

If only it were that simple

by an undergraduate nursing student

Medium: Digital collage and poem, with narration

This exhibition piece explores nurse wellbeing through the theme of “the human behind the nurse.” Developed as a digital collage accompanied by a found poem constructed from phrases within The Nursing Times, the work reflects my creative learning journey throughout this module. Initially, I viewed wellbeing as an individual responsibility; however, engaging with historical perspectives and creative practice challenged this assumption, revealing how longstanding professional expectations of resilience and self-sacrifice continue to shape nursing culture.

The collage is divided into two contrasting halves: one depicting clinical imagery, documentation, and professional responsibility, and the other portraying personal life, relationships, and identity. This visual tension represents the duality inherent in nursing practice. Overlaying the collage, the repeated phrase “if only it were that simple” exposes the complexity of nursing beyond technical skill, highlighting the emotional labour that often remains invisible.

Through the creation of this piece, I have developed a deeper awareness of how suppressing vulnerability can affect wellbeing, compassion, and sustainable practice. Recognising “the human behind the nurse” has strengthened my empathy not only towards patients, but also towards colleagues and myself. This work has encouraged me to view wellbeing as an ethical and professional responsibility rather than a personal weakness. I hope the piece may prompt other nurses to reflect on their own dual identities, fostering open dialogue about emotional labour and contributing to a more compassionate and supportive professional culture.

As the owl augurs: a commonplace book

by Dr Caitlin Kight (School of Education)

Mixed media

February 2026

For centuries, commonplace books have been used as a space for thinkers to capture quotes, excerpts, fragments of correspondence, descriptions of dreams, nascent ideas, and other elements that support learning and reflection. They have parallels with more visual techniques such as collage, bricolage, and montage, and with the postqualitative analytical method assemblage; they can also be thought of as the precursor to contemporary digital personal knowledge management techniques like ‘linking your thinking’ and ‘building a second brain’.

The power of commonplace books arises from their ability not only to retain information, but also to juxtapose and create dialogue amongst different ideas. A similar effect can be seen in microcosmic form in the poem “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird”, in which the thirteen stanzas and their disparate perspectives prompt the reader to look for patterns and reflect on what, if anything, is ‘true’. A related process is prompted by aspect-to-aspect transitions in comic books, which require the viewer to piece together multiple, closely-observed vignettes to understand the wider context.

As the owl augurs draws on these many sources of inspiration to explore one patient’s encounter with Hodgkin lymphoma. The journey from diagnosis to remission (for those who are lucky) involves numerous steps, each of which evokes a multitude of thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations; there are many questions, and few concrete answers. The patient may feel something like a living commonplace book: little more than a jumble of parts lacking cohesion.

This piece does not pretend to represent the experiences of all cancer patients, or even to summarise the entirety – or the ‘truth’ – of what was experienced by the patient at its centre. These are impossible goals. The most that can be achieved is to allow the reader to, however briefly, perceive the complexity of the mental and emotional landscape during a significant medical event like lymphoma treatment – and, therefore, to hopefully feel a greater sense of empathy and understanding.

References and bibliography
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• Blackwell, M. (2025, 11 September). Introduction to the commonplace book. Mrs Blackwell’s Village Bookshop. https://www.mrsblackwell.com/journal/introduction-to-the-commonplace-book
• Bradshaw Foundation. (undated). The rock art of the Chauvet Cave. https://www.bradshawfoundation.com/chauvet/chauvet_cave_art/index.php [source of Chauvet cave owl image]
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• Curtis, N. (1917). Pima Ritual Song Cycle. Sacred Texts. https://sacred-texts.com/nam/por/por29.htm
• Dr Zezo. (2016, 14 June). Hodgkin Lymphoma. Oncohema Key. https://oncohemakey.com/hodgkin-lymphoma-5/ [source of image of ‘owl’s-eye’ pathology]
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• Forte, T. (2021, 6 May). Commonplace books: creative note-taking through history. Forte Labs. https://fortelabs.com/blog/commonplace-books-creative-note-taking-through-history/
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• Holiday, R. (2014, 24 January). How and why to keep a “commonplace book”. https://ryanholiday.net/how-and-why-to-keep-a-commonplace-book/
• Kight, C.R. (in preparation). Personal knowledge management as and for postqualitative analysis. Routledge.
• Owl of Athena. (2025, 12 November). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owl_of_Athena
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• Parsons, A. (aparsons474) (2022, 11 February). Collage, montage, assemblage and bricolage. Incompletion.org. https://incompletion.org/2022/02/11/collage-montage-and-assemblage/
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• Sherman, P.M. (undated). Owls aren’t kosher – but what do they symbolize? The Torah. https://www.thetorah.com/article/owls-arent-kosher-but-what-do-they-symbolize [source of quotation from The Curse of Agade]
• Stevens, W. (1954). “Thirteen ways of looking at a blackbird”. Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45236/thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-a-blackbird
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Click on the image of the book cover below to read the book As the owl augurs: a commonplace book.

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