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
Art prizes bring new works into NHS Lothian settings, …
Patients, visitors and staff across NHS Lothian will benefit from new additions to the Tonic Arts collection, following the award of three purchase prizes at major Scottish exhibitions in 2026.
Edinburgh Artist Reunited with Long-Lost Painting at t…
What began as an ordinary hospital visit turned into an extraordinary moment of rediscovery for one Edinburgh artist and a heartwarming reminder of the stories hanging on the walls of our hospitals.
New Staff Wellbeing Space Officially Opens at St John�…
We were delighted to official open the new dedicated staff wellbeing space at St John’s, designed to provide a calm and restorative environment away from the clinical setting.
Art for Health: RSA200 Exhibition Arrives at the Royal…
This spring, Tonic Arts is hosting RSA200 Art for Health at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh – part of a Scotland-wide touring programme celebrating the Royal Scottish Academy’s 200th anniversary.
What’s on
Tonic Arts Network: Bringing the Outdoors in
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.
Healing Arts Scotland | National Conference
As part of a week long celebration of Arts in Health, join the Tonic Arts team and peers for a […]
Pressure, Light, Fire by Daniele Sambo
NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts are excited to bring Daniele Sambo’s beautiful, personal and thought-provoking artwork to the Hospital Exhibitions […]
Healing Arts Scotland | Edinburgh & Lothians Day
Join the Tonic Arts team and peers for a day of sharing practice, celebrating achievement and connecting with others working across arts and health in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
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
Join our next Green Health Network event at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital on the 4th August.
Where we will be discussing nature, design and creativity and why they are so interlinked?
Find out more & sign up via our Green Health website.
The #TonicArts Collection Team have recently installed a selection of artworks at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital’s Wellbeing Suites Breastfeeding Room. Working collaboratively with site staff, three works were chosen from the collection to enhance the space and provide a calming and uplifting environment for those who utilise it. A highlight from this project has been the installation of two prints by artist @babs_pease, whose works inject a dose of tranquil colours and imagery to the space.
Framing by @detailframing
#artsandhealth #adoseofcreativity #NHSCharity @nhs_lothian
Join our cheer squad and cheer on our amazing Edinburgh Kiltwalkers this September!
Choose from two cheer spots and time on the 13th of September 2026!
Join us now on our website!
PS. We still have some FREE spaces to take part in the Kiltwalk if you would rather join our walkers!
Exciting transformations are underway at St John’s Hospital as we collaborate closely with the Estates team to enhance our outdoor environments for both patient care and staff wellbeing.
At the heart of these efforts is a project to rejuvenate the garden at the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU). As one of only two specialist regional inpatient psychiatric facilities in Scotland, the MBU provides vital, intensive mental health care for mothers and their infants (up to one year old). Our goal is to reshape this garden into a deeply relaxing, practical, and welcoming haven, ensuring families can connect with nature and stay together comfortably during their recovery journey.
In tandem, we are focusing on those who care for our community by developing dedicated staff wellbeing spaces for the Theatres team. This area will feature restful seating, vibrant planting, and raised beds, offering a much-needed outdoor retreat for staff to recharge.
"The Mother and Baby Unit garden is an invaluable resource for the women and families we support. Many mothers are not well enough to leave the hospital, and the garden provides a safe, therapeutic outdoor space where they can access fresh air and connect with nature. " - Tricia, Senior Charge Nurse.
@NHS_Lothian
Our #TonicArts team have been busy this week transforming the entrance at Mackinnon House in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital!
The floral images used in the vinyl wallpaper were created by members of the hospital community in Artlink workshops, led by Anne Eliott. We then worked with Natasha Russell who took the individual watercolour artworks and created the design for this wonderful vinyl wallpaper.
Staff and patients have already said:
"The fact that it`s patient artwork makes it more special"
"It instantly cheers you up, can you do the whole corridor?"
"It`s amazing, what a difference"
Swipe to the end to see before!
@NHS_Lothian
We have counted all totals and are extremely excited to announce that the final total raised from the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2026 is over £44,000! 🎊
Thank you to all of our amazing runners, we are in awe of every single one of you from taking part on the day in the hot sun to training and prepping before it and not to mention all of your support who has helped us reach this total!
🤩 You are all true #CharityChampions
The #TonicArts Collection team have recently completed an install of x15 works at the Western General Hospital’s Genetic Service. A diverse range of artworks was selected by staff to enhance the clinical and staff spaces. The simple addition of colour and imagery to the site has created a more inviting and joyful environment for all to enjoy.
Featuring artworks by #MaggieClyde @lindsayellisart #VictorineFoot and #JackFirth
Framing by @detail framing
#artsandhealth #adoseofcreativity @nhs_lothian @westerngeneralhospital
Don`t miss out on your chance to take part in the TCS London Marathon 2027!
We have TWO charity places for the Sunday, but you have to be quick as applications are closing soon!
Apply today on our website, before it`s too late.
@nhs_lothian @westerngeneralhospital