ARTWORK created by refugees from around the world has gone on display at the Great Western Hospital.

Members of an art group run by Swindon charity the Harbour Project hung drawings, paintings and writing on hospital walls this week. The exhibition will run until the autumn.

Artist Rachel Pryor, who organises the art group, said: “It just helps people have a bit of a break from the gruelling asylum seeker process, all the paperwork, court appearances and interviews that have to go on. Coming to the art group gives people a chance to reflect and have a break from all that.”

The two-hour sessions are held weekly at the charity’s Broadgreen base

Rachel has been volunteering with the group for the past three years, but only began to manage it this year.

She said for refugees and asylum seekers who may not have a good grasp of English, art gives them an alternative outlet: “The visual aspect allows them to express something they otherwise couldn’t because of the language barrier. They can explore their feelings and journey.

“Out of the conversations we have come ideas of how we can express visually and get across to Swindon people what it’s like to be an asylum seeker or refugee.

“I have learned so much listening to people and witnessing their struggles and journeys.”

Around 20 artists would exhibit their work over the course of the exhibition, which runs until October.

The Harbour Project said the group, which meets on a Thursday, aimed to provide a warm, welcoming, friendly and safe space for those supported by the charity.

“It’s fun, but we also explore serious themes of global migration, the difficulty of the asylum process and the fear of being deported,” a spokeswoman said.

The group is funded by grants from the People’s Health Trust and the Big Lottery.

Their exhibition runs to October 7 on the ground floor corridor at GWH.