GHAT
Who we are and what we do
Yesterday was my very lowest day psychologically as physical weakness and psychological despair met. I simply could not have got through it without my art pack. It is impossible to express how much that pack has meant to me but I wanted to try and hope this can reach all who made it possible.”
Alison Chandler
Roxburghe House patient
About Grampian Hospitals Art Trust
GHAT arose from the simple idea that improving the hospital environment by displaying art made everyone who spent time in the buildings feel better. GHAT work highlights culture as a central component of wellbeing and is a sector leader in developing bespoke creative projects for people visiting, working or utilising the services within hospitals and healthcare.
GHAT has come a long way in the 40 years or so since our first arts programmes in 1985, but still, it is committed to expanding art for all by commissioning professional artists to deliver quality projects within challenging public settings and continuous action research within the arts and wellbeing sector. Our success is measured by the feedback and comments of those we touch.
GHAT, as a charity, is supported to deliver our work for those who need it most through several funding sources. We have a Service Level Agreement with NHS Grampian and funding through NHS Grampian Endowments. We will continue to sustain our work through accessing grants, both large and small, and from the kindness and generosity of donors.
Latest News
Healing Arts Scotland – Aberdeen, 15 June 2026
15 June 2026
40 Years of Creativity & Care: Celebrating Grampian Hospitals Art Trust!
GHAT@40 Celebration Day - Wednesday 26th November 2025 Free Creative Day at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Come and celebrate 40 years of Grampian...
GHAT@40: Artroom Taster Session
Wed 26 Nov 2025 - 10-12pmPink Zone Cafe, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Try your hand at painting, collage, drawing, and mark-making—no experience needed!...
How We Make A Difference
Projects
GHAT works hand-in-hand with NHS Grampian to commission local and national artists to work with staff and project teams to design environments that are both relevant and sympathetic to the context of each area, its users and day to day function.
Artroom
A patient-centred project facilitated by professional artists and writers. The ethos of Artroom is that every patient has the potential to be an artist and/or writer in their own right.
GHAT Art Collection
GHAT owns, manages and displays over 4000 artworks across NHS Grampian properties. The GHAT Art Collection comprises of artworks either commissioned or purchased over the past 30 years.
Galleries
The GHAT Exhibitions Programme supports artists to create ambitious art exhibitions for display in two venues. The Suttie Arts Space and The Small Gallery, open 24/7, are within Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Meet The Team
GHAT is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation led by a Board of trustees. We became an SCIO in 2016 which enabled us to grow and take on staff. We are supported by an Arts Advisory Group and a Friends of Grampian Hospital Arts Trust Committee.
We employ staff based in the office to keep the organisation running and key artistic staff who work with patients, visitors and NHS staff in all our sites. Our work needs people to ensure our services are truly person-centred with and focused on supporting patients and NHS staff. All our staff undertake bespoke training to enable them to work in our challenging environments ensuring they are skilled in working in healthcare settings alongside their professional artistic practice.
Artroom
Jo Hastie – Senior Manager Jo.hastie@nhs.scot
Creative Practitioners
Anna Weir anna.weir@nhs.scot
Neal Macdonald neal.macdonald@nhs.scot
Donna McCracken donna.mccracken@nhs.scot
Emily Utter emily.utter@nhs.scot
Elaine Grant elaine.grant6@nhs.scot
Rebecca Patterson rebecca.patterson2@nhs.scot
Laura Mullen laura.mullen5@nhs.scot
Mhairi McBeath mhairi.mcbeath@nhs.scot
Phoebe Banks phoebe.banks@nhs.scot
Jenny Hood
Laura Tavendale
Kirsty Russell
Emma Hall
Collette Cowie
Art Collection
Ainize Moschynski – Senior Manager ainize.moschynski@nhs.scot
Jean Firth – Collection Assistant jean.firth@nhs.scot
Projects and Exhibitions
Tamsin Greenlaw – Senior Manager tamsin.greenlaw@nhs.scot
Alexandra McGregor – Project Assistant alexandra.mcgregor@nhs.scot
Lynda Rennie – Gallery Assistant lynda.rennie@nhs.scot
Enxhi Mandija – Events Programmer enxhi.mandija@nhs.scot
Office
Sally Thomson – Director sally.thomson@nhs.scot
Brad Newman – Graphic Designer kenneth.newman@nhs.scot
Kay Lamont – Bookkeeper
GHAT is led by a team of 14 trustees
Graeme Nicol – Chair
Sam Murray – Chair of Friends of GHAT Committee Business Development Consultant
Richard Stephenson – Treasurer Chartered Accountant
Prof Hamish McKenzie – Formerly Head of Division of Medical and Dental Education, University of Aberdeen and Honorary Consultant Microbiologist, NHS Grampian
Prof Peter Sharp – Emeritus Professor of Medical Physics, University of Aberdeen
Christine Leith – Unit Operational Manger –Theatres Anaesthetics Pain Services DOSA & Pre-assessment, NHS Grampian
Fraser MacDonald – Project Development Officer, Museums and Libraries South Ayrshire Council (Formerly Collections Manager, GHAT)
Anna Ramsey – Senior Research Programmes Lead (REAL Centre), The Health Foundation
Graham Grant – Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, The Robert Gordon University
Ian Fraser – Architect and a Founding Partner of Halliday Fraser Munro, Architects and Town Planners
Nigel Webster – Professor of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Aberdeen and Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, NHS Grampian (Retired)
Alexandra Bonsall – Consultant Dermatologist, NHS Grampian and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer and Careers Lead, University of Aberdeen Medical School
David Lurie – Emeritus Professor School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen
Ken Law – Deputy Head of Teaching for General Practice and Community Medical Education and GP lead on NES ACT committees and Working Groups
Manju Patel – Project Director – Acute Major Capital Projects, Estates, NHS Grampian
Neil Curtis – Head of Museums and Special Collections and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Social Science, University of Aberdeen
Our ‘Friends of Grampian Hospitals Art Trust’ has been a long established supporter programme over the years and we have been hugely grateful to our friends who have remained loyal supporters.
We are looking to grow our Friends group and are reaching out to the Grampian Community to make a regular donation of £35 for individuals each year to support Grampian Hospitals Art Trust’s work.
Be a part of the difference we can achieve for the patients and NHS staff of Grampian.
GHAT Director
Sally Thomson | sally.thomson@nhs.scot
Tel. 01224 551776
Grampian Hospitals Art Trust
Foresterhill
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZN