Art creates ‘sense of sanctuary’ in new Women’s Centre

"Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s new £29m Women’s Centre opened its doors in January, providing maternity services to the whole of Gloucestershire. Willis Newson commissioned photographer Dominic Pote to create permanent artworks for the new building. The focus of his work was nature: “My role was to bring a sense of sanctuary to the public spaces… I wanted to bring peaceful, calming and intriguing images of nature to these spaces where people will often be waiting and in need of some peaceful distraction”, he said. Pote talked with members of staff to understand their journeys to work and their favourite places on the journey. He then echoed these discussions through nine photographic pieces installed in the new building, images of the varied local landscape which will also resonate with the women and their families who use the Centre."