The centrepiece of the courtyard – entitled Echoes of the Heart – is a slate sculpture based on an echocardiogram and created by land artist, Chris Drury and landscape architect, Drew Cane, in collaboration with Mark Dancy, consultant cardiologist at the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust. 

Dancy said: “This project is an excellent example of the best of arts and science working together. The courtyard garden is not just a work of art, but a space of healing and restfulness for patients, visitors and staff.”

Staff and visitors were offered the chance to make their own echocardiograms with slate and sand during the design and building of the courtyard.

Cardiology patient, Basil Wynbergen, 81, said: “As an ex-heart patient myself, it is fascinating to see how the installation represents the workings of the heart. Having been to see the finished work, I was terrifically impressed. An enormous amount of effort has gone into it and I hope staff and patients alike will enjoy it.”

Drury added: “Echoes of the Heart is based around flow patterns in the heart and images from an echocardiogram in both hard landscaping - slate pieces laid on edge - and planted grasses. While the slate is static but appears to move, the grasses will actually move in rippling effects with the wind. When the slate gets wet, images of the echocardiogram will appear in the green slate.” 

He first became interested in combing arts and health a decade ago, telling BBH: “I began working on systems in the body and systems on the planet such as weather patterns and the movement of water. I was trying to find ways through artwork to link the two and I learned that the flow of blood in the heart moves in a twisting motion, known as a cardiac twist. This produces the double vortex pattern you see in the slate.”

The project was funded by Capsticks solicitors,the Arts Council England and Arts and Business.