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
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.
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 Alan Grieve co-curated for patients and staff across NHS Lothian presented by National Theatre of Scotland and NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts.
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.
What’s on
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 […]
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.
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.
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
Our Nature Ranger Lou at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh has been busy teaching staff how to grow herbs and veg on their windowsills at home! On the growing agenda was basil, peas shoots followed by much laughter!
We can`t wait to hear how their plants are getting on!
Looking for a fun way to raise money with your friends, colleagues or family?
Look no further as we are giving away FREE places to you and your loved ones for the Edinburgh Kiltwalk!
There is only a limited number available so get yours today via our website!
*link in bio
Our #TonicArts Collection Team recently completed and install of 11 works at the Royal Edinburgh Building’s Balcarres Ward. Featuring bold and abstract prints, the selected works were thoughtfully curated to enhance the overall feel of the space – adding a dose of creativity and colour to previously clinical-looking areas. The impact of the artwork install was immediately noticed, providing a sense of joy and warmth to the areas used by both patients and staff.
Framing by @detailframing
Featured artworks by @davidshrigley #JohnMacLean @scottcampbellmodern @mattkerrphoto and @darktownresident
#adoseofcreativity #artsandhealth @nhs_lothian
We`re celebrating the NHS Birthday this July with an extra chance to win £3,000! 🎂
Join the Staff Lottery* for the chance to win one of 26 cash prizes, including a special £3,000 birthday prize!
Sign up on our website by July 1st, 2026 to enter! *Open to NHS Lothian staff only
What better way to recharge during a busy working day than stepping out into the sunshine for a breath of fresh air and a boost of vitamin D? Staff at the Royal Infirmary are making the most of the weather and the wellbeing courtyard, cooling off with a refreshing elderflower cordial. And with a bit of creativity, the extendable legs on Lou’s Ranger Activity Table double up perfectly as a pop‑up bar.
💻 We’re back online!
Our website is now up and running again. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we completed essential updates - we really appreciate it 💜
If you experience any issues following the updates, please let us know by emailing [email protected]
🔧 Temporary website downtime
Our website is currently unavailable due to essential maintenance and system upgrades. We’re working to restore access as quickly as possible and expect this to be resolved within 24 hours.
If you need to get in touch in the meantime, please contact us directly:
- Charity funding and general enquiries: [email protected]
- Fundraising, donations, etc: [email protected]
- Charity finance, invoicing or procurement: [email protected]
- Tonic Arts enquiries: [email protected]
- Green Health enquiries: [email protected]
Thank you for your patience and understanding. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
We are excited to bring Daniele Sambo’s beautiful, personal and thought-provoking artwork to our #TonicArts Hospital Exhibitions Programme following its successful run at the Glasgow School of Art’s Garnethill Gallery.
The exhibition consists of a series of blind embossings on paper, photograms and small terracotta sculptures created using tidewrack (manmade marine debris) collected on the Scottish coastline and made during a residency at Hospitalfield.