A DORSET artist has brightened the corridors of a hospital with an exhibition of his paintings.

John Graham has produced a series of paintings that explore the range of emotions shown in simple hand gestures.

The paintings, which are on display at Dorset County Hospital, show a selection of hands designed to highlight different relationships and the emotions they evoke.

Speaking about his paintings, John said: “I have produced a series of paintings, exploring the range of emotions that seemingly simple hand gestures can convey. Two or more hands can say so much by how they physically relate to each other. These paintings are a selection of hands in different poses and each might say different things to different people.

“I particularly wanted to show them here in Dorset County Hospital because I have had family experiences related to both birth and death here, as many others will also have had.”

“I feel it is apt to show them here, in this place full of every kind of emotion, for people to see what they want to in them.”

As well as galleries around Dorset, John has had his paintings displayed in exhibitions with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour in London and Royal West of England Academy in Bristol.

The exhibition at Dorset County Hospital was made possible thanks to the Trust’s Arts in Hospital charity.

Arts in Hospital exist to bring arts and culture into the hospital for the benefit of patients, visitors and staff, and to connect the hospital to the wider community it serves.

Natasha Lummes from Arts in Hospital, said: “Our patients, staff and visitors have been enjoying our new exhibition by John.

“It’s a thoughtful show of figurative paintings exploring connections between people as well as highlighting the comfort and support that another person can bring.”

The exhibition will be on display all summer and can be found in the North Wing Level 2 corridor leading to Damers Restaurant until Saturday, August 31.