HPFT service users win top prizes in national art competition

14 Jan 26

We are proud to share that 3 individuals supported by HPFT have won top prizes in a nationwide art competition run by the Quality Network for Learning Disability Services (QNLD). The competition invited service users to create artwork for future QNLD publications, giving people the opportunity to showcase their creativity on a national platform.

One service user was awarded first place after entering a beautiful painting titled Coral.

The artwork has been kindly loaned to Lexden Hospital, a HPFT service where people with learning disabilities are supported with their mental health and wellbeing.

The judging panel praised the winning entry, saying:

“We really liked the vividness of the colours and the use of a range of textures. We felt that the piece reflected the variety of services and people that we work with as part of the Community services branch of QNLD.”

The artwork has already featured in the 2025 QNLD newsletter and will soon be shared on the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) website. It will also appear on the front cover of the third edition of the QNLD Community Standards, due to be published this year.

Adding to this success, two talented service users were named runners‑up in the competition.

One runner‑up entry, Elevation, is an imaginative architectural design inspired entirely by the artist’s own ideas.

The artist shared:

“This is an architectural design of an elevated building from my mind; it's nothing I've ever seen before. Elevated buildings stand out. Architecture is all about problem solving, coming up with solutions to problems. I find architecture calming because there is always something new. Sometimes you can put it down for an hour or two, then pick it back up.”

The second runner‑up artwork, Open Book, features expressive line drawings created as initial sketches for larger pieces.

Line art drawing of an abstract, open book shape formed by repeated triangular outlines, with fine lines radiating upward from a single point at the base.

The artist shared:

“These are line art drawings. They are sketches to go onto bigger paper. I have an idea in my head, and I thought “how can I put that on paper?”. Art means a lot to me and inspires me to do more.”

Huge congratulations to all the winners and runners‑up!

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HPFT service users win top prizes in national art competition