Art Therapy Exhibition Brings Healing and Connection to Bereaved Parents

In a moving display of creativity and resilience, parents and caregivers supported by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) recently celebrated the culmination of their art therapy journey with an exhibition at the prestigious Sainsbury Centre. The showcase, which ran from November through January at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, featured twenty-two diverse artworks created during EACH’s online “Create” sessions. These sessions, developed during the first national lockdown in 2020, provide a safe space for parents who have experienced the loss of a child or who are caring for seriously ill children. Led by Art Therapist Sandra Smith alongside other creative professionals from EACH, the program has become a vital lifeline for participants from Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Suffolk, offering them a chance to express complex emotions and connect with others walking similar difficult paths.

“To celebrate and see this amazing artwork exhibited in such a prestigious setting is a real honour and makes me extremely proud,” shared Sandra Smith, reflecting on the courage it took for participants to display their deeply personal work in such a public forum. The exhibition represented far more than artistic achievement – it showcased profound human resilience in the face of life’s most challenging experiences. Through these creative expressions, parents found ways to articulate grief, hope, and love that sometimes defy words. The artwork serves as a visual testament to their journeys, with each piece speaking volumes about individual experiences while highlighting the collective strength found in shared understanding. The Create program, which runs in two six-week blocks each year, has fostered meaningful connections among participants who might otherwise feel isolated in their experiences.

Among the participants was Emie Rayfield, who joined the group as a way to cope with the devastating loss of her baby son Theodore in July 2021. Theodore lived for just 71 minutes after being born with exomphalos, an abdominal wall defect detected during Emie’s 12-week scan, along with the later discovery that he had no kidneys. Emie and her partner Lee were referred to The Nook, EACH’s hospice in Norfolk, for support during this heartbreaking time. For Emie, the Create sessions have become an essential part of her healing journey. “The group brings me great joy, gives me an opportunity to meet people and have time to myself, which can be hard during my chaotic day-to-day life,” she explained. The sessions provide her with precious moments to incorporate memories of Theodore into her artwork, keeping his presence alive in a tangible, creative way.

The supportive atmosphere of the Create group has proven to be one of its most valuable aspects. Participants like Emie appreciate that “there’s no pressure and we support each other, having fun along the way.” This judgment-free environment allows parents and caregivers to express themselves authentically without needing to explain or justify their emotions. On difficult days, when grief feels overwhelming or when memories bring tears, group members understand without words – a rare comfort for those navigating the complex terrain of child loss or serious childhood illness. The therapeutic value extends beyond the creation of art, encompassing the communal experience of being truly seen and accepted. These connections have grown stronger over time, with many participants forming friendships that extend beyond the scheduled sessions, creating an informal support network that sustains them through challenging times.

The exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre represents a significant step in the evolution of the Create program, made possible through collaboration with the museum’s staff, particularly Community Education Manager Lauren Wilson and community artist Ian Brownlie. Both professionals participate in online sessions and hosted a special group visit to the museum last summer, helping to forge a meaningful connection between the participants and the cultural institution. “It’s a great partnership and we’re so grateful,” Sandra noted. “It enables the Create group to learn more about the Sainsbury collection, in particular pieces that ‘shout out’ to the group by representing aspects of their lives.” This relationship with the museum has given participants a sense of cultural belonging and validation, placing their personal expressions alongside established works of art and emphasizing the universal human experience reflected in creative expression across time and cultures.

Looking toward the future, Sandra Smith shared that other cultural venues have expressed interest in exhibiting the group’s work, creating potential for these powerful expressions to reach even wider audiences. The prospect of additional exhibitions not only validates the artistic merit of what these parents have created but also raises awareness about childhood bereavement and the challenges faced by families caring for children with life-limiting conditions. Each artwork tells a story that deserves to be heard, potentially providing comfort to others facing similar circumstances while educating the broader community about these often-hidden experiences. The success of the Create program demonstrates how art therapy can transcend traditional counseling approaches, offering participants not just emotional release but also a creative legacy and community connection that continues to support their ongoing healing journey. As one parent expressed, the opportunity to transform pain into something beautiful has been life-changing – a testament to the power of creative expression in navigating life’s most difficult passages.