St Oswalds Hospice
Continuing Bonds
Portraits with Purpose – Continuing Bonds was created in collaboration with St Oswald's Hospice, exploring how portraiture can support remembrance, reflection and conversations about death, dying and bereavement.
Leanne worked closely with 12 families experiencing bereavement or pre-bereavement, including those who had lost loved ones cared for by the hospice and those facing the anticipated loss of someone close to them. Through 12 original oil portraits, the project explored the concept of continuing bonds — the emotional connections we maintain with the people we love, both during their lives and after their deaths.
The families were involved throughout the creative process, sharing their experiences and helping shape portraits that celebrated the individuality, relationships and memories of the people depicted. Their involvement was documented in a film capturing their personal stories and the development of the artwork.
The collection was first exhibited at Newcastle Civic Centre during Dying Matters Week in May 2024, alongside the documentary film, creating opportunities for public reflection and conversations about grief, pre-bereavement and remembrance. The portraits were subsequently exhibited at Newcastle Cathedral in November 2024, extending the project's reach into the wider community.
The original paintings were gifted to the participating families, creating a lasting personal legacy beyond the public exhibitions.
St Oswald's Hospice also holds a collection of prints, which continues to be used at events, in fundraising activities and across its social media channels. This allows the portraits and the stories behind them to reach new audiences, raise awareness and continue supporting the hospice's charitable work.
The project demonstrates how sensitive, collaborative portraiture can create lasting value for both families and organisations, supporting remembrance, public engagement and charitable fundraising long after the original commission.
From the St Oswald's Hospice Team
“Leanne is a pleasure to work with. Aside from her undeniable talent as a portrait artist, the kindness and encouragement she showed our participants was beautiful to watch, and her innate ability to say the right thing at the right time was perfect for such an emotive project.”
Watch one of the Continuing Bonds documentaries
How this project supports organisational objectives
Public engagement
Creating accessible opportunities for conversations about death, dying and bereavement.
Awareness and education
Helping audiences better understand experiences of end-of-life care, loss and remembrance.
Legacy and remembrance
Creating lasting portraits that celebrate individual lives and their importance to families.
Charity awareness
Raising the profile of hospice work through exhibitions and personal stories.
Community connections
Bringing families, the hospice and wider communities together through shared experiences.