Louth artist donates 'deeply personal' painting to hospital ward for elderly
An artist based in Louth has donated “a deeply personal” painting to a hospital ward that cares for elderly people.
Samantha Woodward, founder of The Corner Of Creations art studio on Northgate, created ‘Break Free Elephant’ while preparing for the funeral of her mother, who endured a long battle with cancer.
The artwork has since been exhibited in London and has now found its home on Ward 6B at the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, where Samantha hopes it will “bring a little comfort to patients, families and staff”.
She said: “Having previously worked on Ward 6B, I have seen, first hand, the realities of elderly care.
"The long days, the emotional weight and the compassion shown by staff supporting patients and families, often through end-of-life care.
"That environment stays with you. You don’t forget it.
"So I have decided to donate a limited-edition print of the original ‘Break Free Elephant’ to the ward’s day room. which is a shared space where patients, visitors and staff can take a moment away from the clinical environment.
"At a time when I have been through loss myself, it felt right that the piece should go somewhere it might bring comfort to others going through their own difficult moments.”
The donation completes a full circle for the painting, created from a blank canvas in Samantha’s unique Louth studio, which features a gallery and workshops.
"I didn’t set out to paint something so personal,” she explained. “But it naturally became part of the piece.
"Art has always been my way of processing things, and this work carried a lot of emotion with it.
“The elephant, a symbol of strength, became a quiet reflection of resilience, endurance and the weight people carry during difficult times.
"The message ‘break free’ speaks not just to physical challenges but emotional ones too.”
Created using Samantha’s signature layered style, bold colour and texture, the painting invites the viewer to look beyond the surface, much like the experiences that inspired it.
After completion, it was selected for exhibition within The Holy Art Gallery in London, which was a proud moment for the Louth artist.
The original piece remains part of Samantha’s personal collection, while a small number of limited-edition prints have been created to allow the piece to be shared more widely.
She added: “Now installed on the ward, the artwork stands not just as a visual centrepiece but also as a symbol of resilience, compassion and connection.
“For me, it marks a deeply personal milestone – one where art, memory and meaning have come together in a way I hadn’t planned but feels incredibly right.
"It’s a piece of work that came from a place of loss but it’s ended up somewhere it might bring a little bit of peace. That means everything to me.”