Cooltan Arts, Maudsley Hospital, London, Until 31 October

Star rating: 4/5.

How refreshing to visit the Maudsley psychiatric hospital to view an art exhibition, writes Mark Drinkwater.

Cooltan Arts run art workshops for and by survivors of mental distress and its exhibition features artwork in a variety of media including acrylics, pen and ink and collage.

Particularly striking are a portrait by Noriko Ogawa and the surreal cartoons by Ian Cameron. There is a further exhibition of digital images at the Outpatients’ caf’.

Listening to visitors, there was an overwhelmingly positive response to the exhibition. The only omission was the lack of biographical details of the artists.

At first the Maudsley seems an uninviting setting, however the venue adds to the visitor’s experience of the exhibition, and gives a positive reason for visiting the hospital.

Mark Drinkwater is a community worker.