Down to a fine art - Cleves Place residents showcase paintings in local exhibition

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May 29, 2019

Residents at Cleves Place have showcased a collection of their paintings in a special art exhibition at the Haverhill Arts Centre.

86-year-old Denis Buckleand 91-year-old Reg Wood, residents at Cleves Place, have had their artwork displayed at the local arts centre following their participation in weekly art classes at the home. 

The exhibition, named ‘Through Our Eyes’, was held to celebrate the launch of dementia-friendly cinema screenings at Haverhill Arts Centre. 

Reg and Denis live with dementia, which can make recalling recent events or learning new information difficult. Creative art therapy, such as painting, dancing, or crafts, can be incredibly beneficial for those struggling with memory loss, as well as helping to improve motor skills, relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem and confidence.

Home manager at Cleves Place, Noby Checathadathil Jacob, said: “Residents are at the heart of everything we do here at Cleves Place and we love to go the extra mile to celebrate their passions. We worked closely with Haverhill Arts Centre to host this exhibition and all enjoyed the chance to admire Reg and Denis’s work, which spanned landscape, seaside, animals and birds.

“Participating in creative activities can have significant benefits for those living with dementia. It’s incredible to see the positive impact art can have on someone’s mental health and well-being – Reg and Denis were thrilled to have their work displayed for the community to enjoy, and the exhibition was a huge success. We’d like to say a big thank you to Haverhill Arts Centre for exhibiting their work.”