Tonic Arts
Enhancing environments and enriching experiences.
Tonic Arts is NHS Lothian Charity’s vibrant, award-winning arts in health programme, creatively enhancing the patient, staff and visitor experience at NHS Lothian.
Working in partnership with staff and patients, we deliver a diverse arts programme of events, workshops, exhibitions and site-specific art commissions that help improve staff and patient health and wellbeing across the NHS Lothian community.
Watch our video to find out more about how we use art and creativity to enhance health and wellbeing
Latest news
Nicola Benedetti brings festival experience to patient…
We were delighted to welcome Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival and world-renowned violinist, to the Royal Infirmary […]
Music jams help to improve mental health and wellbeing…
Music jams bring the healing power of live music to the Royal Edinburgh hospital during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Healing Through Dance: Gentle Movement Classes Boost W…
In a heartwarming collaboration between Dance Base and NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts, patients at East Lothian Community Hospital are […]
Encore! NHS Festival Sessions Return for 2025 Bringing…
Our 2025 NHS Festival Sessions will once again bring the magic of world-class musical performances directly to patients, families, staff, and volunteers across NHS Lothian hospitals.
What’s on
Mindful Walks in West Edinburgh: An Art Exhibition by Julia Murden
Explore Julia Murden’s Mindful Walks in West Edinburgh exhibition at The Western General Hospital, featuring art inspired by mindful walking […]
Positive Health: Green Health and Tonic Arts Network Gathering 2025
Our 2025 Network Gathering is a platform for sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and advancing positive health initiatives using creativity and nature.
NHS Festival Sessions
We’re thrilled to be continuing our exciting partnership with Edinburgh International Festival, bringing world class artists to perform for patients and staff across NHS Lothian.
Tonic Arts Network: Using Art and Design to Transform Healthcare Spaces
Join us for our next online network event to discover more about our Havens participatory project, other staff wellbeing projects and how to develop them.
Spotlight on: Havens
NHS Lothian Charity’s programmes, Tonic Arts and Green Health, in partnership with Stills Gallery, are proud to present ‘Havens’ – a series of portraits and stories documenting NHS Lothian staff members’ work-life experiences.
Our Work
Tonic Commissions
Tonic Collection
Tonic Exhibitions
Tonic Participation
With your support, NHS Lothian Maternity Services have launched two Community Midwifery Hubs, bringing more in-depth assessments to local areas. These hubs help women engage better in their pre-maternal care — making pregnancy a little easier and a lot more personal.
Butterfly IQ Scanners have also been purchased meaning midwives can now check how the baby is lying without sending mums to hospital — saving time, money, and stress. 🦋
Lucy, a Community Midwife in East Lothian, shared:
“It’s so rewarding to be able to provide this service. Now I don’t have to send our mums-to-be to hospital to be scanned which is far less stressful for them and gives a continuity of care throughout their pregnancy.”
👏 Thank you for helping us bring care closer to home.
#NHSCharity #MaternityCare #CommunityMidwifery #PregnancySupport
With your support, NHS Lothian Maternity Services have launched two Community Midwifery Hubs, bringing more in-depth assessments to local areas. These hubs help women engage better in their pre-maternal care — making pregnancy a little easier and a lot more personal.
Butterfly IQ Scanners have also been purchased meaning midwives can now check how the baby is lying without sending mums to hospital — saving time, money, and stress. 🦋
Lucy, a Community Midwife in East Lothian, shared:
“It’s so rewarding to be able to provide this service. Now I don’t have to send our mums-to-be to hospital to be scanned which is far less stressful for them and gives a continuity of care throughout their pregnancy.”
👏 Thank you for helping us bring care closer to home.
#NHSCharity #MaternityCare #CommunityMidwifery #PregnancySupport
We are celebrating our first anniversary of the Staff Lottery! Which means we have a bumper prize draw up for grabs! Enter before the 1st of September to be in for a chance of winning:
🤑£3,000
💸£2,000
💰Plus 25 other cash prizes!
Sign up via the link in our bio 🔗
*Please note this lottery is opened to all NHS Lothian staff with a payroll number
#StaffLottery
We are celebrating our first anniversary of the Staff Lottery! Which means we have a bumper prize draw up for grabs! Enter before the 1st of September to be in for a chance of winning:
🤑£3,000
💸£2,000
💰Plus 25 other cash prizes!
Sign up via the link in our bio 🔗
*Please note this lottery is opened to all NHS Lothian staff with a payroll number
#StaffLottery
Patients and staff have been having a great time during their photography workshops at the Astley Ainslie Hospital in partnership with @stillsedinburgh ! 📸🌲
Find out what is going on at the Astley Ainslie via our Green Health website, via the link in our bio 🔗
#GreenHealth #Photographyworkshop #NaturePhotography
Patients and staff have been having a great time during their photography workshops at the Astley Ainslie Hospital in partnership with @stillsedinburgh ! 📸🌲
Find out what is going on at the Astley Ainslie via our Green Health website, via the link in our bio 🔗
#GreenHealth #Photographyworkshop #NaturePhotography
We had a great time having staff from the Robertson Group volunteering at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, where they didn`t only donate their time to help tidy up some of the courtyard spaces, but also some supplies to help with the job! 🌲🪴
Thank you to everyone for their hard work and effort! #GreenHealth #Volunteering
We had a great time having staff from the Robertson Group volunteering at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, where they didn`t only donate their time to help tidy up some of the courtyard spaces, but also some supplies to help with the job! 🌲🪴
Thank you to everyone for their hard work and effort! #GreenHealth #Volunteering
We just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who took part in our `Walk 100 miles in June` challenge👏! Together you have raised over £7,200 which will help us continue on supporting staff and patients of NHS Lothian 💜
#ThankYou #FundraisingChallenge
We just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who took part in our `Walk 100 miles in June` challenge👏! Together you have raised over £7,200 which will help us continue on supporting staff and patients of NHS Lothian 💜
#ThankYou #FundraisingChallenge
Join the @Kiltwalk and help us provide support for our local hospitals and healthcare heroes. Every step you take makes a difference. Sign up today via the link in our bio! 🔗
#FundraisingEvent #Kiltwalk2025
Join the @Kiltwalk and help us provide support for our local hospitals and healthcare heroes. Every step you take makes a difference. Sign up today via the link in our bio! 🔗
#FundraisingEvent #Kiltwalk2025
Recently, we have helped make Wards 101 & 201 at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Hospital more dementia-friendly!
With lighter flooring to help reduce falls and calming colours to ease anxiety and confusion, these thoughtful changes are already making a big difference to patients’ comfort and safety. Swipe to see what it looked like before!
This is just one example of how your support helps us improve care across NHS Lothian every day. Thank you for being part of it.💜
#DementiaFriendly #NHSCharity #NHSScotland
Recently, we have helped make Wards 101 & 201 at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Hospital more dementia-friendly!
With lighter flooring to help reduce falls and calming colours to ease anxiety and confusion, these thoughtful changes are already making a big difference to patients’ comfort and safety. Swipe to see what it looked like before!
This is just one example of how your support helps us improve care across NHS Lothian every day. Thank you for being part of it.💜
#DementiaFriendly #NHSCharity #NHSScotland
With the lovely weather we have had recently, our wildflowers that were planted recently at the Astley Ainslie Hospital are thriving! 🥀🌻
This project is transforming sections of the hospital grounds into a vibrant, biodiverse haven. It aims to create a space that benefits both people and the planet.
#GreenHealth #WildflowerMeadows
With the lovely weather we have had recently, our wildflowers that were planted recently at the Astley Ainslie Hospital are thriving! 🥀🌻
This project is transforming sections of the hospital grounds into a vibrant, biodiverse haven. It aims to create a space that benefits both people and the planet.
#GreenHealth #WildflowerMeadows