Tonic Arts
Enhancing environments and enriching experiences.
Tonic Arts is NHS Lothian Charity’s vibrant, award-winning programme that creatively enhances 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.
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.
Watch our video to find out more about how we use art and creativity to enhance health and wellbeing
Latest news
NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts Purchase Prize Winner …
We are delighted to announce the winner of this year’s Tonic Arts Purchase Prize, awarded at the prestigious Royal Scottish […]
NHS Lothian Staff Join Scottish Opera for Triumphant P…
NHS Lothian staff members have earned rave reviews for their participation in Scottish Opera’s recent production of Oedipus Rex at […]
NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts wins gold in prestigio…
NHS Lothian Charity’s Tonic Arts Programme took home gold at the Scottish Design Awards for their holistic and pioneering art and environment strategy at East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington.
NHS Lothian Charity and Edinburgh International Festiv…
NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts and Edinburgh International Festival are delighted to announce the continuation of their exciting partnership, bringing the magic of live music directly to patients and staff across NHS Lothian hospitals.
Our Work
Tonic Commissions
Tonic Collection
Tonic Exhibitions
Tonic Participation
🎨 Unleash your inner artist and give your brain a break with weekly `Art Drops` in collaboration with @genarts2! 🎨
Talented artists will be visiting sites across @nhs_lothian with a fantastic selection of creative resources, materials, and activities for you to doodle, sketch, or create. It`s your time to step away for a moment and pause, recharge and relax. Choose from structured activities, explore self-led experiments or just stop by for a look and a chat.
📍Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Main Mall: Wednesdays 2nd April - 7th May, 2-4pm
📍Western General Hospital
Wellbeing Wing: Wednesday 2nd April, 2-4pm
Café, Ann Ferguson Building: Wednesdays 9th April - 7th May, 2-4pm
📍St John’s Hospital, Livingston
NHS Lothian Charity Hub: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6th May – 22nd May, 11am-1pm
#TonicArts #adoseofcreativity #ArtDrops #GenArts
🎨 Unleash your inner artist and give your brain a break with weekly `Art Drops` in collaboration with @genarts2! 🎨
Talented artists will be visiting sites across @nhs_lothian with a fantastic selection of creative resources, materials, and activities for you to doodle, sketch, or create. It`s your time to step away for a moment and pause, recharge and relax. Choose from structured activities, explore self-led experiments or just stop by for a look and a chat.
📍Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Main Mall: Wednesdays 2nd April - 7th May, 2-4pm
📍Western General Hospital
Wellbeing Wing: Wednesday 2nd April, 2-4pm
Café, Ann Ferguson Building: Wednesdays 9th April - 7th May, 2-4pm
📍St John’s Hospital, Livingston
NHS Lothian Charity Hub: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6th May – 22nd May, 11am-1pm
#TonicArts #adoseofcreativity #ArtDrops #GenArts
We`re thrilled to announce our Tonic Arts Purchase Prize winner from the Royal Scottish Academy`s New Contemporaries 2025 exhibition! Showcasing Scotland`s best emerging talent, this year`s exhibition features 63 artists and architects selected from the 2024 degree shows. 🥁
We`re delighted to have purchased five captivating works from Tallulah Batley`s "Pink Parlour Prints Series"! These stunning pieces celebrate the portrayals of women found in National Galleries of Scotland’s collection and are beautifully developed from her Edinburgh College of Art Graduate Show installation.
🎨 Tallulah`s work will be joining our Tonic Collection of over 2500 artworks, which brings cheer and distraction to patients, staff, and visitors across over 30 @nhs_lothian sites.
💬 In her own words, Tallulah shared: “I am so delighted to have received this award, and that these artworks will be displayed in local hospitals. I`m especially glad that the works will stay in Edinburgh, as the majority of the portraits that I used as references for my work were taken from the National Gallery’s collection, so they are celebrating the historic artistic culture of the city. These works developed from my love of highly decorated objects and decor, bright patterns and colours, and the joy and energy that I feel when looking at beautiful things. I hope that having these works displayed in local hospitals will help to bring the same joy and pleasure that I was inspired by to the patients, visitors, and staff, in what can often be a stressful, trying experience.”
We`re so excited to welcome Tallulah`s vibrant and thoughtful work to the Tonic Collection!
@royal_scottish_academy @tbat.ley @nationalgalleriesscot
Image Credits:
Artist: Tallulah Batley, RSA New Contemporaries
Photographer: Julie Howden
#TonicCollection #TonicArts #adoseofcreativity #RSANewContemporaries #PinkParlourPrints #EmergingArtists
We`re thrilled to announce our Tonic Arts Purchase Prize winner from the Royal Scottish Academy`s New Contemporaries 2025 exhibition! Showcasing Scotland`s best emerging talent, this year`s exhibition features 63 artists and architects selected from the 2024 degree shows. 🥁
We`re delighted to have purchased five captivating works from Tallulah Batley`s "Pink Parlour Prints Series"! These stunning pieces celebrate the portrayals of women found in National Galleries of Scotland’s collection and are beautifully developed from her Edinburgh College of Art Graduate Show installation.
🎨 Tallulah`s work will be joining our Tonic Collection of over 2500 artworks, which brings cheer and distraction to patients, staff, and visitors across over 30 @nhs_lothian sites.
💬 In her own words, Tallulah shared: “I am so delighted to have received this award, and that these artworks will be displayed in local hospitals. I`m especially glad that the works will stay in Edinburgh, as the majority of the portraits that I used as references for my work were taken from the National Gallery’s collection, so they are celebrating the historic artistic culture of the city. These works developed from my love of highly decorated objects and decor, bright patterns and colours, and the joy and energy that I feel when looking at beautiful things. I hope that having these works displayed in local hospitals will help to bring the same joy and pleasure that I was inspired by to the patients, visitors, and staff, in what can often be a stressful, trying experience.”
We`re so excited to welcome Tallulah`s vibrant and thoughtful work to the Tonic Collection!
@royal_scottish_academy @tbat.ley @nationalgalleriesscot
Image Credits:
Artist: Tallulah Batley, RSA New Contemporaries
Photographer: Julie Howden
#TonicCollection #TonicArts #adoseofcreativity #RSANewContemporaries #PinkParlourPrints #EmergingArtists
Sunshine and good vibes at our Green Health Network Event!
We had such a beautiful day for our latest Green Health event! The discussion and presentations were insightful, and our in-person attendees then had the pleasure of a walking tour around Astley Ainslie by Aisling, our Nature Rehabilitation Ranger, followed by a refreshing outdoor lunch. A wonderful reminder of the positive impact of connecting with nature and each other.
#LothianGreenHealth #Network #NatureConnection #HealthAndWellbeing #AstleyAinslie #ConnectWithNature
Sunshine and good vibes at our Green Health Network Event!
We had such a beautiful day for our latest Green Health event! The discussion and presentations were insightful, and our in-person attendees then had the pleasure of a walking tour around Astley Ainslie by Aisling, our Nature Rehabilitation Ranger, followed by a refreshing outdoor lunch. A wonderful reminder of the positive impact of connecting with nature and each other.
#LothianGreenHealth #Network #NatureConnection #HealthAndWellbeing #AstleyAinslie #ConnectWithNature
We`re seeking Volunteer Gardeners to support the delivery of green health activities, maintain outdoor spaces across NHS Lothian, help tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, and raise awareness of the benefits of our natural health service. We`re looking for individuals with gardening experience who can work independently to an agreed plan, with a minimum commitment of six months. Could this be you?
Opportunities available at Astley Ainslie Hospital, Western General Hospital, Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Midlothian Community Hospital.
Find out more by emailing: [email protected]
We`re seeking Volunteer Gardeners to support the delivery of green health activities, maintain outdoor spaces across NHS Lothian, help tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, and raise awareness of the benefits of our natural health service. We`re looking for individuals with gardening experience who can work independently to an agreed plan, with a minimum commitment of six months. Could this be you?
Opportunities available at Astley Ainslie Hospital, Western General Hospital, Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Midlothian Community Hospital.
Find out more by emailing: [email protected]
Sign up for the next block of our Free NHS Staff Choir in partnership with Generation Arts.
Our choir is for all @nhs_lothian staff and volunteers, past and present. Whether you have sung before or have no experience, all are welcome to our fun and relaxed choir.
There will be a mixture of music and the chance to input into what songs you sing, with an informal sharing for family and friends at the end of each eight-week block.
Tuesdays from 7.00pm-8.30pm
📍Carmondean Community Centre (next to Livingston United Church), Fells Rigg, Livingston EH54 8AX
To book your place, contact Fiona at [email protected] or call 07740 578 224
Sign up for the next block of our Free NHS Staff Choir in partnership with Generation Arts.
Our choir is for all @nhs_lothian staff and volunteers, past and present. Whether you have sung before or have no experience, all are welcome to our fun and relaxed choir.
There will be a mixture of music and the chance to input into what songs you sing, with an informal sharing for family and friends at the end of each eight-week block.
Tuesdays from 7.00pm-8.30pm
📍Carmondean Community Centre (next to Livingston United Church), Fells Rigg, Livingston EH54 8AX
To book your place, contact Fiona at [email protected] or call 07740 578 224
Richard chose to leave a gift to NHS Lothian Charity in honour of his beloved wife, Jean. Deeply grateful for the care Jean received from his local NHS, Richard wanted to give back, say thank you and help others.
"By leaving this gift to the Breast Cancer Unit I’m saying thank you for the care that gave us so many more precious years together. And I hope my gift will do the same for families facing similar challenges, giving them hope and more memories to cherish.”
Write your forever thank you with a free Will today. Follow the link in our bio to find out more about our FREE Will writing service.
Richard chose to leave a gift to NHS Lothian Charity in honour of his beloved wife, Jean. Deeply grateful for the care Jean received from his local NHS, Richard wanted to give back, say thank you and help others.
"By leaving this gift to the Breast Cancer Unit I’m saying thank you for the care that gave us so many more precious years together. And I hope my gift will do the same for families facing similar challenges, giving them hope and more memories to cherish.”
Write your forever thank you with a free Will today. Follow the link in our bio to find out more about our FREE Will writing service.
📣 Calling all @nhs_lothian staff 📣
There`s still time to join our exciting new Community Chorus in partnership with @scottishopera!
🗓️ Weekly rehearsals: Tuesdays at 7 pm, starting April 22nd.
All levels welcome - no prior experience needed!
To find out more and sign up, visit: https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/join-in/so-nhs-lothian-chorus/
📣 Calling all @nhs_lothian staff 📣
There`s still time to join our exciting new Community Chorus in partnership with @scottishopera!
🗓️ Weekly rehearsals: Tuesdays at 7 pm, starting April 22nd.
All levels welcome - no prior experience needed!
To find out more and sign up, visit: https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/join-in/so-nhs-lothian-chorus/
Rally your crew for the EMF Hairy Haggis Relay! 🏃♀️🏃♂️ Looking for fun, fitness, and unforgettable memories with friends, family, or colleagues in 2025? Team up and conquer the Haggis! Follow the link in our bio to register your team and run in aid of NHS Lothian Charity
#EMF2025 #HairyHaggis #RunTogether #EdinburghMarathonFestival #EdinburghMarathon #NHSCharity #HaggisRelay.
Rally your crew for the EMF Hairy Haggis Relay! 🏃♀️🏃♂️ Looking for fun, fitness, and unforgettable memories with friends, family, or colleagues in 2025? Team up and conquer the Haggis! Follow the link in our bio to register your team and run in aid of NHS Lothian Charity
#EMF2025 #HairyHaggis #RunTogether #EdinburghMarathonFestival #EdinburghMarathon #NHSCharity #HaggisRelay.