Botanical Beauty – Cardiff Care Home Raises Over £3000 Through Art Exhibition

A care home in Cardiff has welcomed the local community to a very special art exhibition in aid of charity.

Care UK’s Llys Cyncoed, on Cyncoed Road, hosted the unveiling of botanical art produced by resident and award-winning artist Vivien Burgess.

The exhibition was launched on Friday 3rd October with a champagne and canape reception. Friends and family members had flown in especially for the occasion, and the home was full to bursting with the number of visitors who joined the event.

Guests had the opportunity to view and purchase 28 original pieces of Vivien’s work, displayed throughout the home’s library. Just over £2000 was raised during the exhibition, all of which will be donated to three charities chosen by Vivien which are Velindre Cancer Centre, Salvation Army and UNICEF, and Children in Gaza.

The exhibition runs until the end of October with other pieces of art available to purchase to support these charities.

Vivien’s art venture began in the 1980s, pressing flowers between the pages of old Yellow Pages and creating intricate collages. Her work caught the eye of luxury department store Liberty London, which featured her pressed flower pictures in collections. As trends evolved, Vivien shifted to botanical painting, studying at Richmond College, West Dean College in Chichester and RHS Garden Wisley.

Her work, which has been displayed in many galleries, has won her multiple awards from the Society of Botanical Artists, Royal Horticultural Society and Ringwood Art Society. She also became a fellow member of the Society of Botanical Artists and a member of the Royal Miniature Society, Hilliard Society and Society of Limners.

Carley Hunt, Home Manager at Llys Cyncoed, said:
“The art exhibition was a huge success.Vivien is incredibly talented and we were thrilled to be able to showcase her work to the local community.

“It was a truly beautiful day and so heartwarming to see the smile on Vivien’s face as everyone browsed her work. It is really important to us here at Llys Cyncoed to encourage residents to keep up their hobbies and passions and events like these are a great way to do that.

“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped us to raise funds for her chosen charities”