Students brighten Staffordshire hospital garden with vibrant mural

Three students from the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Creative Industries have transformed a Staffordshire hospital garden with a vibrant new mural, bringing colour and creativity to the Milford Ward at St George’s Hospital.

Illustration students Nathan Colyer and Laura Boden, along with Keeley Iqbal, a recent MA graduate in Digital and Visual Communications, designed and painted the mural at the Milford Ward, an adult acute mental health unit at St George’s Hospital, run by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT).

Commissioned as part of the Arts for Health programme, the project aims to enhance healthcare environments and promote wellbeing through creative engagement. Now in its second year, the collaboration between the University and MPFT builds on a successful 2024 mural project that transformed internal spaces at the same site.

The new mural was developed in close collaboration with patients and staff. Weekly art sessions invited service users to explore colour, pattern, and themes, with their ideas and artwork directly informing the final design.

The result is a joyful and uplifting outdoor space that offers a more welcoming and therapeutic environment for patients and staff who enjoy visiting the allotment garden.

Nathan, 21, from Stourbridge, said:
“We each chose a nature theme to bring joy and relaxation to the patients and staff. This was my first large-scale art project, and it was a brilliant opportunity to demonstrate my skills, collaborate with other artists, and contribute something positive to the ward.”

Laura, 37, from Walsall, who worked on neighbouring garden project at Milford ward last year, added:

“It was a real collaborative effort where we each contributed our unique styles to create a harmonious design that exudes positivity and calm. It’s fulfilling to witness first-hand how illustration can positively impact a real-world environment.

“This experience has inspired me to explore more public art opportunities and shown how illustration can positively impact real-world environments.”

Lindsey Chambers, Head of the School of Social Science, Humanities and Creative Industries at the University of Wolverhampton, said:
“The mural not only enhances the day-to-day lives of patients, transforming the outdoor space into a more engaging and joyful environment, but also gives our students meaningful insight into planning and delivering a professional commission.

The arts and wellbeing project, which was open to all Creative Industries students, reflects University’s commitment to embedding professional development into the student experience. Through live briefs, work placements, and real-world collaborations like this, students gain hands-on experience that builds confidence, creativity, and career readiness, while making a meaningful difference in the community.

“We hope to continue developing this relationship in the years to come. It’s always a pleasure to see the outcomes of this collaboration.”

Eleanor Babb, Arts for Health Project Lead, said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Keely, Nathan and Laura on this partnership project with the university. They have worked so hard with a flexible approach and a can-do attitude, and the finished designs are fantastic.

“Projects like this highlight the growing role of the arts in healthcare. It’s important for us in Arts for Health to offer this kind of experience to students. Hospital enhancement and participatory projects are a career option for creative professionals that are perhaps not so well known but are definitely growing as more NHS trusts recognise the impact of the arts on people’s health and wellbeing.”

Find out more about the Arts for Health project.

The University of Wolverhampton is ranked 6th in the UK for Fine Art and 12th for Graphic Design and Illustration in the Guardian University Guide 2026.

Explore our Creative Industries courses and discover what it's like to study with us at our next Undergraduate and Postgraduate Open Day on Saturday 29 November.