Portraits with Purpose: Continuing Bonds

In collaboration with St Oswald’s Hospice, artist Leanne Pearce created 12 poignant portraits, working with bereaved and pre-bereaved families who have accessed the hospice’s bereavement support and/or other care services.

The collection celebrates the lives of loved ones, provides a positive, creative focus for grieving or pre-bereaved families, and supports them in their ‘continuing bonds’ process. The exhibition opens conversations about death, dying and grief while challenging some perceptions around ‘hospice care’.

After meeting with families in Autumn 2023, during which many helped paint the backgrounds of their portrait canvases, Leanne completed the emotive artworks in her home studio in Newcastle. The original canvases were displayed at Newcastle Civic Centre in May 2024 and have since been gifted to the families, who were offered support by St Oswald’s Hospice’s Bereavement Team throughout.

The display at Newcastle Cathedral features high-quality prints of the original artworks and the stories behind them, including a documentary video.