Children's Hospital

A Multitude of Stories

This delightful artwork, now installed in the Children's Radiology department at the John Radcliffe Hospital, is made up of thousands of donated vintage toy cars. We hope it will inspire patients and visitors to share stories about their own childhoods, and reminisce about their own adventures with toy cars. This is an installation for all ages.

The idea for the project was conceived during Athol's first solo exhibition at the Sarah Wiseman Gallery in Oxford in 2011.  In the intervening years many cars have been donated through collecting initiatives at the hospital, gallery and social media. 

Ruth Charity, Arts Coordinator for the Trust, said, "We know that patients, visitors and staff feel artworks turn clinical spaces into welcoming, positive and engaging places to visit and work, which is so important when people are dealing with their deepest fears. The 'Multitude of Stories' project creates a space to reflect and reminisce through an engaging and absorbing artwork."

The artist has generously donated his time and creativity to create the artwork, supported by Sarah Wiseman Gallery. The realisation of the artwork has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of the project by Value Retail (Bicester Village) and support from Carillion, Rory Carnegie, suppliers Dauphin Acrylics and Hugh Milne Furniture, and artlink, the Trust's arts programme.

The artist would particularly like to acknowledge the support of the late Bernard Conolly.