My partnership with the Friends of King's College Hospital Charity
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My love of art and English, started at an early age, taking photos on family days out and sketching, which continued when I studied Art and English at Rochester Tutors in historic Rochester, Kent. But like many artists, life took over and for years, I rarely indulged in any form of art other than to create the occasional pet portrait for family and friends. I didn't immediately follow a creative career, but I did eventually go on to enjoy nearly fifteen years as a part time wedding and freelance branding photographer.
In 2024 I decided to put my camera to one side to pursue a new creative career
but I was unsure what that would look like. Then in the New Year of 2025, my world was rocked by a family circumstance that found me spending huge amounts of time at Kings College Hospital, London.
On parking the car, I would walk, at times, daily, to Kings, through Ruskin Park which is a stunning green space, nestled next to the world class hospital and boasts impressive views of central London.
As I walked, I found a few minutes to breathe before taking on the emotional challenges of the day ahead and ground myself by observing the reassuring predictability of the trees and plants throughout the changing seasons and the many animals that have made the park their home.
I also enjoyed the passing company of the community using it both alone and in groups as a safe and
regenerative sanctum amongst the urban pace.
As I walked, I took reference photos and gathered fallen leaves and grasses, sketched them once home and began to develop a sense of the vital importance of nature for wellbeing, especially those needing support through a challenging time. These few minutes each day gave me a little peace and strength when I needed it most and struggled to find it anywhere else.
As I drove to and from Kings, I also observed the people going about their day, particularly where I sat in the heavy traffic through Camberwell, Peckham, Lewisham, Deptford and Blackheath and between my own thoughts I would wonder what the people I observed had going on in their own lives.
Then, one cold dark night as we travelled home from an appointment, sat in heavy traffic, I began to envisage a way to put my ideas and art into a form that could possibly have a positive impact on other people's lives, especially those going through similarly difficult periods of their life. Also a way to thank the strangers that had entered their lives through circumstance but changed it for the better. As the ideas began to form, the idea of a collection of cards and prints began to take shape.
Once I had a small collection, I met with the wonderful volunteer board at King's Hospital, who run the
Friends of King's Hospital charity Registered Charity no. 207328. The team run a shop in the hospital and have a dedicated committee and band of volunteers who work hard raising funds to enhance the patient, visitor and staff experience by creating comfort for patients and their families form across the country, who rely on the world class facility and the wonderful staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to treat, care for, cook, clean and provide for their every need. They provide vital equipment for patients, upgrades to wards, consoles for children to help keep them calm and occupied and fold up beds so that parents are able to stay with their children overnight. They also support the diverse community of professional staff who provide the first class level of care that touches so many lives every year, often in very difficult circumstances. Their work is life changing and every donation helps this incredible work continue positively changing lives of people, when they need the care and support the most.
We now collaborate, my work on sale in the hospital shop, to add to their sales profits as well as an additional 20p donation per Card, 20p per Comfort Card and £1.00 for every Print sold, both in the shop and all of my other sales channels, with all donations lovingly given to support their truly amazing work.
As our journey continues, so do my observations and so do my ideas and associated artwork and writing.
I truly hope that my work facilitates emotional connection, helping people to express feelings of thanks, understanding, positivity and love whilst offering comfort, hope and wellbeing and I hope that the partnership that the Friends of King's College Hospital and I have formed, goes on to raise vital funds and support individuals and families who rely on their dedication to care for others.
We are all busy navigating the many changing seasons and situations of our lives but it is so much easier when we take time for each other and provide the support and community that everyone needs and deserves.
Much love,
Julia x
If you are able to support the amazing work of the
Friends of King's College Charity, Charity Reg no. 207328
via my Just Giving page, we would be so grateful. Thank you.
