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

Charlie Gorman, musician and guitarist, playing guitar

26 August, 2025

Hivestock Festival brings music, sunshine and smiles t…

The grounds of Royal Edinburgh Hospital came alive at the end of August with music and celebration as annual outdoor festival, Hivestock, returned once again

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27 June, 2025

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 […]

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Music in Hospitals and Care musician Charlie Gorman performing at the Hive, Royal Edinburgh Hospital

14 May, 2025

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.

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Group of patients sitting in chairs dancing with Dance Base Instructor.

11 April, 2025

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 […]

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What’s on

Artwork by Lindsey Hamilton

13 October, 2025 – 16 February, 2026 / Western General Hospital

Things Beyond Measure by Lindsey Hamilton

We are delighted to present Feeling My Way & Things Beyond Measure, a new exhibition by Lindsey Hamilton, a graduate […]

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Photos of autumn and Spring in Edinburgh by Dr Pete Wands

8 September, 2025 – 31 December, 2025 / Astley Ainslie Hospital, 133 Grange Loan, Edinburgh EH9 2DT

Edinburgh: Four Seasons in One Day – Outdoor Photography Exhibition by Dr Pete Wands 

“Edinburgh: Four Seasons in One Day” is a captivating outdoor photography exhibition by Dr Pete Wands, GP at Morningside Medical Practice.

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Photographs of the pictures from the Mindful Walks in West Edinburgh event by Julia Murden.

2 April, 2025 – 24 September, 2025 / Tonic Gallery 1, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU

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 […]

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Joint Tonic Arts and Green Health Network Event

13 May, 2025 / Usher Building, The University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Road Edinburgh EH16 4UX

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.

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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. 

Craig Easton taking a picture of Linda at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Our Work

tiled Corridor © Frances Priest - Tonic Commissions

Tonic Commissions

We support and manage arts, design and selected Greenspace commissioning programmes, developed with patient and staff engagement and collaboration.
Tonic Collections

Tonic Collection

The Art Collection plays an important role in the improved health and wellbeing of staff, patients and visitors with over 2,500 artworks displayed across over 30 NHS Lothian sites.
Saudade © Katherina Axemo, exhibited as part of the Leaves exhibition

Tonic Exhibitions

We curate temporary exhibitions at seven gallery spaces across five NHS Lothian hospital sites, showcasing a dynamic and diverse range of artworks including patient and staff work alongside professional and commissioned work.
Engagement

Tonic Participation

Our Participation Programme brings the transformative power of the arts to patients, caregivers and staff in healthcare settings across NHS Lothian, inspiring individuals and helping them to connect and communicate to improve wellbeing.
🧬 Your support fuels life-saving research! 💙
Imagine if cancer treatment could be tailored just for you reducing side effects and improving your quality of life. Thanks to your generosity, this vision is becoming reality.

At the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Professor Duncan McLaren and his incredible team are pioneering a groundbreaking approach to radiotherapy. Right now, most patients receive a standard dose but every person, every tumour, and every response is different.

This research is changing that. By monitoring how patients respond during treatment, doctors could adjust doses in real-time reducing them before side effects kick in, or safely increasing them to boost effectiveness.
This is personalised cancer care in action and it’s only possible because of supporters like you. 💫

🔬 Thank you for helping us push the boundaries of cancer treatment.
Read more on our website! 
#CancerResearch #Radiotherapy

🧬 Your support fuels life-saving research! 💙
Imagine if cancer treatment could be tailored just for you reducing side effects and improving your quality of life. Thanks to your generosity, this vision is becoming reality.

At the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Professor Duncan McLaren and his incredible team are pioneering a groundbreaking approach to radiotherapy. Right now, most patients receive a standard dose but every person, every tumour, and every response is different.

This research is changing that. By monitoring how patients respond during treatment, doctors could adjust doses in real-time reducing them before side effects kick in, or safely increasing them to boost effectiveness.
This is personalised cancer care in action and it’s only possible because of supporters like you. 💫

🔬 Thank you for helping us push the boundaries of cancer treatment.
Read more on our website!
#CancerResearch #Radiotherapy
...

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Our next Green Health Network fast approaching and you won't want to miss it! 

Wildflowers on the NHS Estate: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.
Join us to explore the challenges & opportunities of biodiverse hospital grounds. 🌿

📍Attend online or in person at Western General Hospital
Sign up on our Green Health website or send us a message!
#greenhealth

Our next Green Health Network fast approaching and you won`t want to miss it!

Wildflowers on the NHS Estate: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.
Join us to explore the challenges & opportunities of biodiverse hospital grounds. 🌿

📍Attend online or in person at Western General Hospital
Sign up on our Green Health website or send us a message!
#greenhealth
...

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Looking to take on a challenge in the new year? Why not sign up for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival! 🏃
Choose your distance and claim your charity place today via the link in our bio 🔗

Looking to take on a challenge in the new year? Why not sign up for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival! 🏃
Choose your distance and claim your charity place today via the link in our bio 🔗
...

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🎶Calling all musicians! 🎶
Do you want to bring the joy of live music to patients across NHS Lothian hospitals? Why not volunteer with us and spread your talent amongst hospital wards. 
Find out more via our Tonic Arts site or send us a message! 
#TonicArts #Volunteer

🎶Calling all musicians! 🎶
Do you want to bring the joy of live music to patients across NHS Lothian hospitals? Why not volunteer with us and spread your talent amongst hospital wards.
Find out more via our Tonic Arts site or send us a message!
#TonicArts #Volunteer
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🎄 Jingle All the Way to a Jackpot!
Ready to win this Christmas? 🎁
Sign up for our staff lottery and you could take home £2,000 – plus 25 other festive prizes!
✨ Don’t wait – enter today and make your season sparkle! 
Sign up via the link in our bio🔗

🎄 Jingle All the Way to a Jackpot!
Ready to win this Christmas? 🎁
Sign up for our staff lottery and you could take home £2,000 – plus 25 other festive prizes!
✨ Don’t wait – enter today and make your season sparkle!
Sign up via the link in our bio🔗
...

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WOW, where do we start!🤩 We are so proud of our 2025 Kiltwalkers, going out, raising money and taking on a challenge. There was so many reasons as to why people were walking, but the one thing that united them all is the gratitude they feel for our cherished NHS! 
Thank you to everyone who donated, walked and cheered, you amaze us everyday 💜🚶‍♀️🚶

WOW, where do we start!🤩 We are so proud of our 2025 Kiltwalkers, going out, raising money and taking on a challenge. There was so many reasons as to why people were walking, but the one thing that united them all is the gratitude they feel for our cherished NHS!
Thank you to everyone who donated, walked and cheered, you amaze us everyday 💜🚶‍♀️🚶
...

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