Bournemouth-based Stuart has painted his own interpretation of a yellow ribbon inscribed with lyrics from Coldplay’s hit single ‘Yellow’, which has been installed in one of the main windows near the entrance to Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts and his artwork will then be auctioned off to help raise money for the hospice charity.

The concept of the Art Trail was to ask Forest Holme supporters to create yellow ribbon inspired works of art as an alternative the hospice’s usual Tie A Yellow Ribbon event, which could not take place this year due to government Covid-19 guidelines. 

Lewis Hay, Fundraising Manager at Forest Holme, said, “Traditionally our Tie a Yellow Ribbon event takes place each year during Hospice Awareness Month in June, and has been a special commemorative event for many of our supporters. The day brings the community together in joint celebration of our loved ones who are absent in body but remain with us in spirit.

However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainty of the lockdown roadmap, it was not possible to host it in the usual way at the hospice this year, so instead we asked our supporters to create their own works of art inspired by the yellow ribbon.”

The hospice charity has teamed up with a number of local businesses, including Butterfingers, Lighthouse, Primark, Valentina Shoes, Toni & Guy, Ten Foot Naked, Sainsbury's, Bella Rose Beauty, The Lord Nelson and Forest Holme itself, to display the submitted artwork around Poole and create the first ever Forest Holme Arts Trail.

The artwork will be on display in windows and shop and Forest Holme has also produced a special Arts Trail map which can be downloaded via its website www.forestholmehospice.org.uk Visitors will also be able donate to the charity at each location if they wish by scanning the QR code on the exhibit card, which will also feature quotes from the artists about what Forest Holme means to them.

Lewis Hay, adds, “We hope the trail will encourage people to get together outside and enjoy the yellow ribbon inspired artwork created by our wonderful supporters around central Poole. We may not be able to come together for one day for ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’ but we hope the Forest Holme Arts Trail will bring families and friends together for a safe walk to appreciate what has been created in support of your local hospice.”

Forest Holme Hospice provides end of life care and support to more than 1,000 local people each year with advanced cancer and other life-limiting illnesses across Poole, Wimborne and Isle of Purbeck. Each year the Charity needs to raise at least £950,000 to help enhance the NHS provision at the hospice and ensure that Forest Holme is there for patients and their family and friends during the most difficult time of their lives.