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
NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts Welcomes Trolleydarity…
Trolleydarity’s Scratch n Sniff Staycation for the Discerning Static Traveller is an innovative new project by artists Shona Reppe and […]
Art Exhibition Shines Light on Scotland’s First Rena…
A moving and inspiring art exhibition created by young adults living with kidney conditions, is now open at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh marking a milestone moment for NHS Lothian’s pioneering Renal Young Adult Service.
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
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 […]
What’s on
BOLD by Caroline Sikkenk
A photography exhibition highlighting the experiences of women living with breast cancer including patients from the Western General Hospital. We […]
Art for Health – Scottish Healthcare Collective
A Scottish NHS Arts Partners Touring Exhibition: two touring exhibitions of visual artworks by RSA Academicians and award winners.
Network Event: Creatively Minded
Our next online Tonic Arts network meeting is to let you know about our Creatively Minded project.
Tonic Arts and Green Health Joint Network Event: Delivering Together
Registration for this event is now closed. Join our network to be the first to hear about our future events. […]
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
Help Shape the Future Direction of NHS Lothian Charity – and be entered into a prize draw to win £50 🎉
We are reviewing our strategy to ensure we continue to make the biggest possible impact for NHS Lothian staff, patients and services - and to do that, we need you!
Whether you’re a donor, supporter, follower or an NHS Lothian staff member, your feedback will help shape our future priorities and ensure our work reflects the needs of the communities we support.
We’d be really grateful if you could spare 10 minutes to complete our survey.
As a thank you, you’ll also be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 voucher.
Find the links in our highlights!
This week is #GreenHealthWeek! Did you know the benefits of walking? Along with our Nature Rangers offering wellbeing walks throughout hospital sites, we also have a pack to get YOU outside and walking.
Find out how you can connect with nature on our Green Health website.
Our #TonicArts Collection team recently installed ‘Moonlit Walk’ by Edwin G. Lucas at the Mackinnon House Admin Corridor. This work recently returned from its loan at the Hawick Museum’s exhibition ‘Edwin G. Lucas – A Purely Individual Painter,’ part of @liveborders programme of supporting creative communities in the Scottish Borders.
This exhibition showed paintings and drawings, richly illustrating the artist’s Surrealist period and the unique body of innovative work he created later, along with rare archival material from the artist’s estate.
Tonic Arts is proud to house a diverse and extensive collection of contemporary and modern artworks which can be enjoyed from NHS sites to museum exhibitions.
#artsandhealth #TonicCollection #HawickMuseum #LiveBorders
This week is #MentalHealthWeek and we are highlighting one of the projects we funded at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Staff in Canaan Ward, were able to purchase a number of board games such Chess, Draughts, Dominoes, Scrabble, Ludo and Snakes and Ladders. Jackie, Activities Co-ordinator in Canaan Ward, uses the games on a daily basis with the 15 patients on the ward, who are all men and are in the latter stages of dementia. From her experience of using the games she shares the difference the games have had, illustrating how a low cost project can have a big impact for patients.
"Some of the patients have been on the ward for a long time and I have seen the mental and physical impact boredom can have. These board games are an amazing addition to my resources to help keep patients occupied.”
You can read the impact of these board games and many more projects on our website.
Get your tartan ready! The Edinburgh Kiltwalk is taking place on the 13th September and we are giving away FREE places!
Yes, that`s right you can walk for FREE! So what`s stopping you?
Get behind our NHS staff and patients whilst exploring the stunning sites of Edinburgh!
Claim your FREE place now: https://ow.ly/tzEP50YZI5J
Today, we are giving thanks and want to celebrate the amazing nurses throughout NHS Lothian.
Thank you to them in all of the work and support they do 💜
#InternationalNursesDay
"I felt alive again,” Alan said. “I’d lost so much strength, but walking the Camino reminded me I could rebuild it.”
For most of his life, Alan enjoyed good health. But everything changed the day he mentioned a small lump on his neck to friends during a drive to St Andrews. Their insistence that he get it checked led to a fast‑tracked referral, biopsies, and finally, a diagnosis he never expected: throat cancer.
Although he was told the cancer was treatable, the months that followed were gruelling. Radiotherapy meant wearing a tight mask, terrifying for someone claustrophobic. Chemotherapy drained his energy and caused dramatic weight and muscle loss. Even simple walks became difficult. But throughout every stage, Alan says the NHS Lothian staff were brilliant, calm, compassionate, and determined to guide him through.
He found grounding in small routines: breathing techniques shared by his daughter’s Alexander Technique teacher, short daily walks when possible, and the support of friends who had been through similar treatment. And through it all, he held onto one goal; returning to something he loved deeply: walking the Camino de Santiago.
One day, travelling to the Western General for treatment, Alan noticed an advert for Walk 100 Miles in June. This, he realised, was how he could reconnect with his love for walking and reclaim a part of himself whilst also giving something back to the people who had cared for him.
Not long after completing treatment, Alan returned to the Camino. Before cancer, he could walk 30–40km a day. This time, 12–20km was a challenge – but every mile carried more meaning. Crossing that 100‑mile mark was monumental.
Alan walked to honour the NHS staff who helped care for him, raising £615 to strengthen support for others facing their own treatment journeys. His 100 miles were a celebration of recovery, resilience, and gratitude. Today, he continues to receive all‑clear results, continues to walk, and continues to be grateful for the amazing NHS teams who had supported him through the hardest chapter of his life.
You too can Walk 100 Miles like Alan, sign up today on our website.
This is your LAST CHANCE to join our Green Health and Tonic Arts joint network event! Taking place on Wednesday 13th May.
It is a platform for sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and advancing positive health initiatives using creativity and nature.
Don`t miss the conversation: https://ow.ly/Af3m50YV7y7