Art from the heart:
mural brings communities together

The piece was designed and created by two of the University’s MA Illustration students, transforming a blank wall at the charity’s Guildford hospice, Christopher’s.

The charity, who provide specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or who have been bereaved, across Surrey, south-west London and north-west London, invited students to create artwork that would reflect their work and the families they support.

The chosen piece, created by students On Ruengworadakul and Reshma Vattackal Suresh, was a favourite of Shooting Star’s Care team for its vibrant and engaging design. It took the pair four days to complete the piece, painstakingly ensuring every detail and colour matched their original bespoke design.

Lucy Hooper, Social Media and Content Officer at Shooting Star, led the project and said: “We’re delighted to have worked with UCA students to create a beautiful piece of artwork at Christopher’s. As UCA alum I understand how valuable it is to build local connections and showcase your work before graduating. We’re so grateful to On and Reshma for their hard work, and it’s lovely to see the enjoyment it’s already bringing!”

Tom Walker, Programme Director for Illustration and Journalism at UCA agreed: “The collaboration offered students a unique opportunity to work with a real-world client, developing their professional practice while contributing to a deeply meaningful cause. The mural, now proudly displayed at the hospice, reflects the warmth, care, and imagination that Shooting Star brings to the lives of children and families facing the most challenging circumstances.

“This project was an incredible chance for our students to apply their skills beyond the studio. Working with Shooting Star Children’s Hospices not only gave them valuable experience responding to a live brief, but also allowed them to make a genuine impact through their art.”

To learn more about studying Illustration at UCA, visit the course pages.

Follow @sschospices