Home is where the art is

Sue started painting pebbles when she was referred to St Barnabas House hospice with incurable spinal cancer. As part of the support she receives, Sue attends art groups twice a week. “I put out 40 pebbles at the weekend and nearly 1,000 people have liked and commented on my post,” she says. “Now I just have to make sure I can keep up with demand!” 

Sue, who had her own cleaning business before she became unwell, says people even recognise her as “the stone lady” when she visits the local shops. 

 The idea came from social media, where she spotted a story about a woman in the United States doing something similar. “I thought, ‘I can do that!’” Sue remembers. “I posted a picture on the village Facebook group, introducing myself as a patient at the hospice and saying that I’d be hiding my stones for people to find. People can either keep them or pass them on, I don’t mind.” 

Sue is a lifelong lover of the coast, and her favourite designs are seascapes and nautical themes. However, recent experiments include insects, animals and even a portrait of the singer Freddie Mercury – “I’m not putting Freddie out though,” she says.  “I really like that one!”  

Recently, people have been getting in touch to ask when the next batch of stones will be distributed. “I had one lady saying that they were having their grandchildren down over Easter and they would love to find some. I’ve told people that if they’d like a specific design, I’ll do it for them and drop it off.” 

Sue started to become more interested in making art during lockdown, when she bought some canvases and started experimenting with abstract painting. But it was at St Barnabas that she began to give her creativity free rein. 

“When I was first introduced to the hospice, I didn’t want to go at all,” she says. “But honestly, it’s made such a difference to me. It’s wonderful. When I found out about my cancer, I stopped being interested in life – I thought that was it for me. Then I started attending groups – I’ve done cooking, gardening and art through the hospice’s Living Well programme. I’d never been interested in gardening at all before I became ill, but since attending the group I’ve started growing my own herbs and tomatoes. I’ve been growing sunflowers from seed too and leaving them outside my gate with a sign saying people can take them home. 

“My Thursday art group, hosted by the artist-in-residence Stevan, is very special. We have such a giggle, and not long ago when I had a good scan result, I took a bottle of prosecco in for us all to share. 

“As soon as I walked into the hospice for the first time, I knew it was going to be good for me. From the ladies on reception to the lovely man in the café, everyone is so friendly and they’re always ready for a chat.”   

Anyone with a life-limiting illness in the St Barnabas House catchment area (Worthing and selected GP surgeries across Adur, Arun and Henfield) can sign up for the Living Well programme. From wellbeing programmes, exercise classes to talking groups; our specialist team have developed a full programme of support that you can dip in and out of – depending on what you think will be beneficial to you.

If you think our Living Well service could be of any help to you, there is a simple form to fill in online. 

Sue (on the left) attending an art class