Hospital Charity Artist Invited to Present Healthcare Wellbeing Research at International Conference
- Written by Rachael Vowles
- Posted: 29 Sep 2026
- 2 min read
Illustration of layered skin
Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity's resident artist, E J Lance (Emma Bailey), has been invited to present at a prestigious international healthcare conference, showcasing how creative practice can support clinician wellbeing, observation skills and patient care.
Emma, who is part of the Charity's Air Arts programme, will lead a workshop at the International Conference on Physician Health™ (ICPH) in London on 30th September. The conference brings together healthcare professionals, researchers and leaders from around the world to explore innovative approaches to reducing burnout and improving wellbeing across the healthcare workforce.
How Drawing Can Support Healthcare Professionals
During the conference, Emma will deliver a practical session exploring how drawing can be used as a tool for observation, reflection and wellbeing.
The workshop will introduce delegates to techniques that encourage closer looking, helping healthcare professionals develop skills that can be applied in clinical practice. Through creative exercises, participants will learn how drawing can strengthen observation, improve communication and provide space for reflection in demanding healthcare environments.
The session reflects the wider work delivered by Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity's Air Arts programme, which uses creativity to enhance hospital environments and support the wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff.
Some of Emma's work
Research Demonstrates the Benefits of Visual Literacy
Emma's invitation follows growing recognition of the role that arts-based approaches can play in healthcare education.
She is a co-author of the published research paper,'Visual Literacy: Seeing the Skin' course effect on clinician observational and descriptive skills in skin of colour and white skin', which explored the impact of a visual literacy programme developed with clinicians at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. The study found that combining observation, discussion and practical drawing activities can help improve clinicians' observational and descriptive abilities while also supporting wellbeing.
Visual literacy refers to the ability to critically interpret and create images. Increasingly, healthcare organisations are recognising these skills as valuable tools for developing diagnostic observation, communication and reflective practice. Source.
A Unique Artistic Practice
Working under the name E J Lance, Emma is known for creating highly intricate and often surreal drawings inspired by anatomy, natural history collections and botanical specimens.
Her artwork combines detailed observation with imaginative storytelling, encouraging audiences to take a closer look at the world around them. This focus on careful observation has become a defining feature of her work within healthcare settings, where artistic processes can help clinicians slow down, notice subtle details and approach challenges from new perspectives.
From large-scale exhibitions and installations to commissioned design projects and educational programmes, Emma's work spans a wide range of disciplines. Through Air Arts, she has adapted these creative techniques to support healthcare teams, demonstrating how the arts can contribute to professional development and workplace wellbeing.
Representing Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity on an International Stage
Speaking about the opportunity, Emma said:
"I am delighted to have been invited to represent Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity and the work we do through the Air Arts team at such a prestigious conference.
Resident Artist, Emma Bailey (E J Lance)
Our work with clinical teams across Derbyshire and Staffordshire is designed not only to enhance professional practice, but also to support wellbeing. Through this workshop, I hope to demonstrate how creative approaches can improve observation, encourage reflection and ultimately benefit both healthcare professionals and the patients they care for.
It is particularly exciting to be able to share work that has contributed to published research and to showcase the valuable role artists can play within healthcare settings."
Showcasing the Impact of Arts in Healthcare
Emma's involvement in ICPH provides an opportunity to highlight the innovative work taking place across Derbyshire and Staffordshire through the Charity's Air Arts programme.
By bringing together art, research and healthcare practice, the programme is helping to demonstrate that creativity is more than a cultural enhancement. It can be a practical tool for improving wellbeing, developing professional skills and creating positive experiences for staff, patients and visitors alike.
As healthcare organisations continue to seek new ways to support their workforce, Emma's invitation to present on an international stage is a powerful recognition of the growing impact of arts-based approaches within modern healthcare.