Meet Bradford hospital's new 'artist in residence'

Peter Hodgson’s thought-provoking pieces are on display at the city’s main hospital and he will produce more in the coming months.

Peter has always been into art and it was a means of escape when he was bullied at school.

Some of the pieces created by Peter

In later life, he decided to enrol at Bradford College and said: “I had no idea if I would complete the course but I did and I got some great results.

“The following year I enrolled on the next art course and once again I made it through and got distinctions.”

He then enrolled on the BA (hons) Art and Design Course.

As part of his studies, he and his fellow students were invited to the BRI to meet with staff and Mel Pickup, chief executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Peter said: “I can’t speak for the other students but I wasn’t prepared to hear how the artworks helps visitors, patients and staff.

“Initially my negative thinking was that this is a hospital, not a gallery so who is going to care?

“I am so very happy that I was wrong. It was clear to me that I should make more for them.”

Peter added that getting the opportunity to make art that has “more purpose” helps with his own mental health.

His inspiration comes from many different places.

“Lately I take a lot from whatever is happening in the world and close to home,” he said.

A lot of his pieces have an NHS theme and were created in the height of the pandemic.

This one is called ‘Can I go outside’ and Peter said: “The depiction of a small child who is wearing a mask but you can see the smile because of the way the eye narrows as they are catching the falling leaves from the tree.  

“The tree also has buds growing which I felt was a pretty strong image, but subtle. I wanted a feeling of hope too, whilst things won’t be the same again maybe we can go outside without our masks on and without fear.”

Of ‘Thumbs Up’ he said: “The source of this inspiration simply came from a photo I saw of a hospital staff member wearing full PPE smiling under the mask whilst giving a thumbs up.

“I really liked this image because it was reassuring so I took that and turned it into a mosaic.”

This piece, Bradford, was the first one he made for the hospital that wasn’t part of an assignment.

Peter said: “The art features some of the sights, including pigeons, and people just walking about town.

“This was made as a cyanotype which was built up from a rubylith stencil I had painstakingly made for a screen print that took a really long time but it turned out so well.”

The hospital then asked for a piece that depicted ‘kindness’.

“I had a pretty clear image that felt real to me of a care worker comforting a patient on a bench,” said Peter.

“I worked pretty quick with this one as it was a pretty straightforward composition and I liked the idea of including sparrows.”

Helen Sutcliffe, head of corporate affairs at the hospital, said: “We are extremely delighted at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that Peter Hodgson has agreed to be the ‘artist in residence’ at the BRI.

“Peter has already donated some fantastic pieces of artwork to the Trust which not only brightens the walls of our corridors but also lifts the spirits of our staff, patients and visitors to the BRI. 

“His artwork brings cheer, gives the opportunity for reflection and contemplation.  Peter has such skill, vision and has totally embraced the Trust’s theme of kindness to produce such heart-warming, striking, thought-provoking, beautiful pieces. 

“We look forward to displaying more work from Peter over the coming months.”