New painting at Bodmin Hospital is a real family affair
Renowned local artist Cathy Davies has spoken of her family pride after donating one of her paintings to Bodmin Hospital, a place she says holds a special place in her heart.
‘Calmness at Carbis Bay’ will bring a beautiful splash of colour to the walls of the electro-convulsive therapy department in the hospital after Cathy made the generous donation to a place which has featured prominently throughout her life.
It has been a real family affair for Cathy, whose parents, Steve, and Carmen Davies, both worked in the mental health sector at the hospital, while other family members were employed there for several years.
She says: “Due to my family history and connection with Bodmin Hospital it felt right to donate one of my original art pieces from my gallery.
“My father had a big role at St Lawrence’s Hospital in Bodmin. His role was nurse tutor to all the student nurses at the hospital. He managed many wards and was a very well-respected person in the industry.
“My mother was a health care assistant at Bodmin Hospital for many years and a well-respected person who was well liked by the staff she worked with.”
The painting, which was officially unveiled on July 27, was inspired by the G7 Summit, which took place in Carbis Bay in 2021. Written into the ripples of water are the names of the world leaders who attended.
Cathy adds: “I know myself that paintings have a great power to bring calm and suppress anxiety. I hope that my painting will bring comfort and warmth to the patients, staff, and care providers.”
Cathy paints in all mediums, from oils to acrylics, and while staff and patients will be delighted to see her work on display at Bodmin Hospital, her undoubted talents are also being enjoyed by children. The Cathy Davies School for Mini Artists is hugely popular, with Cathy dedicating much of her time to teaching children at her arts school in Nanpean.
She also teaches children with additional needs, and this has not only proved a massive hit with her young students but the parents who get an enormous sense of pride at seeing their children get creative.
She says: “From the age of 5 I have painted. I turned professional after my parents passed away. This gave me the drive to follow my dreams of becoming a professional artist and to also teach and inspire the younger generation of up-and-coming artists.
“Due to being dyslexic myself, for all my life it was important to me to give others with a difficult ability of learning an opportunity to shine. I teach children of all abilities in a safe happy and calm environment at my art school and studio at Nanpean".