Summer art exhibition HeART of Ashgate to launch with special family donation

A new outdoor art exhibition set within the gardens of Ashgate Hospice takes place this August, celebrating local creativity while honouring the memory of a Derbyshire artist whose family received support from the hospice.

HeART of Ashgate will take place between Friday 7 August to Sunday 9 August, bringing together local artists, live music and creative activities to raise vital funds for the hospice.

Visitors will have the opportunity to browse and buy original artwork, enjoy the beautiful hospice gardens and explore Ashgate's recently unveiled Tree of Life sculpture, where engraved leaves provide a lasting tribute to people who have died.

One of the highlights of the exhibition will be a collection of original paintings by artist and former university art lecturer Kenneth Waite. His granddaughters, Emily Clark and Eleanor Pearce-Brown, have donated the artwork in memory of their grandfather and as a thank you to the hospice that cared for him and supported their family.

Emily said: "Our connection to Ashgate is deeply personal. Within a short space of time, my sister and I lost both our parents and our grandparents to cancer. During one of the most difficult periods of our lives, Ashgate provided invaluable care, compassion, and support to our family. 

"Their kindness and guidance helped us navigate an incredibly challenging and emotional time, making a real difference not only to our family members who received care, but to all of us.”

Over the course of several years, Ashgate supported different members of the family through some incredibly difficult times. In 2019, their nanna, Valerie, received care at home. In 2023, their dad, Roy, was supported by Ashgate at his home in Tibshelf following a cancer diagnosis and he died in November of that year. Just months later, in March 2024 their grandfather, Ken, received end of life care in Ashgate's Inpatient Unit, where he died aged 92. During this time, their mum, Pam, was also undergoing cancer treatment and died in January 2025. 

The support extended beyond Ken's care. Emily, Eleanor and their children also received bereavement support through Ashgate's family support groups and in school.

It’s for this reason that the sisters wanted to give something back to Ashgate and why they are donating their grandfather’s artwork to HeART at Ashgate.

The sisters have many special memories of their grandfather, who lived close by and played a huge role in their lives. They remember countless happy days playing games and helping him in the garden as well as many family holidays together. 

He was also an incredibly proud great-grandfather to Freddie, Max and Elsie, and took great joy in watching them grow. Family meant everything to him.

Emily said: "Donating these paintings is our way of giving something back to a charity that means so much to our family.”

Her sister added: “We will always be grateful for the support Ashgate gave us, and we hope these paintings help raise valuable funds so they can continue providing outstanding care and support to other families facing similar circumstances. "

Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy live music, art stalls, silent auctions and refreshments while browsing artwork from talented local artists. The opening evening on Friday includes complimentary canapés and a glass of Pimms on arrival, with the exhibition continuing across the weekend with entertainment, food and activities for all ages.

Tickets cost £6 for adults and £3 for children under 10. For more information or to book tickets, visit www.ashgatehospice.org.uk/heart-of-ashgate