A new mural has been painted inside an East Lothian day care centre to help stimulate memories and conversation among older people living with dementia.
The artwork at Harlawhill Day Care Centre features local landmarks and brings the public art tradition of Prestonpans indoors.
Created by Edinburgh-based Mexican artist Draya Madú, the installation was funded by the Postcode Local Trust.
Members of the centre watched the painting evolve over several weeks, prompting them to share memories of the depicted locations.
The mural includes representations of Preston Tower, the Laburnum Arch, the Johnny Moat Stone, Arthur’s Seat, and a robin.
Prestonpans is designated as Scotland’s Mural Town, featuring more than 50 outdoor artworks depicting its industrial past, including coal mining and salt panning.
The project at Harlawhill Day Care Centre was commissioned to bring this local identity into the facility for members who can no longer travel around the community independently.
Following the completion of the artwork, Madú was presented with a framed drawing of Preston Tower created by local artist Amanda Owenson.
The painting is part of a broader programme of facility improvements at the East Loan premises. The Postcode Local Trust funding also enabled the charity to redecorate the building, install new flooring in the dining area, replace essential equipment, and carry out repairs to its ageing minibus.
Ewan McMillan, Chair of Harlawhill Day Care Centre, said: “Watching the mural develop was every bit as rewarding as seeing the finished result.
“Every week our members tried to guess what each new section would become, and with every brushstroke came another conversation or memory. That’s exactly what we hoped it would achieve.”
The centre is now inviting members of the public to visit the facility to view the mural and learn about the charity’s work supporting older people in the local community.
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