artwork by Turner prize-winning artist Damien Hirst has been donated to Oxfordshire's hospitals.

The limited edition print, ‘Butterfly Rainbow’, has been gifted to 50 hospital trusts across the UK, including Oxford University Hospitals and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trusts.

It is made up of images of coloured butterfly wings, one of the artist’s best-known motifs, designed to form a rainbow.

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Hirst, who won the Turner prize in 1995, created the original piece in May 2020 to show support for frontline health staff tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

Profits from the sales of limited edition prints were donated to NHS Charities Together, the organisation that represents and supports the official NHS charities working across the UK.

The artist said: “I wanted to do something to support the many people who are risking their lives to help those in need during this time of crisis.

"The rainbow is a sign of hope and I’m so pleased to have released these prints to help fund the brilliant work being done by NHS staff across the country.”

Ruth Charity, arts coordinator at OUH and a member of the Oxford Hospitals Charity team said: “It’s a really inspirational and beautiful piece that generates a feeling of hope and positivity in these difficult times.

"We are absolutely delighted to have this wonderful artwork and can’t wait for staff to be able to see it.

“We want all our staff to be able to enjoy this piece, which will initially be installed at the John Radcliffe Hospital before visiting the Churchill, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Horton hospitals.

“Bringing the arts and music into our hospitals has never been more important as they have a power to engage and support both staff and patient wellbeing."

Oxford Mail:

One has also been donated to Oxford Health, which runs the county's community hospitals.

Tom Cox, Oxford Health’s artscape project manager, said: “Art plays a big role in the work we do as it provides inspiration and enjoyment as well as brightening up the wards.

“We were delighted to receive our own Butterfly Rainbow and are seeking out the best place for it so that it can be seen and enjoyed.

“The exact location for the artwork is still be decided – we have just one Butterfly Rainbow but lots of facilities across a wide area.

"But we will find a location where it will definitely be seen and bring happiness and, for those that can’t see it in person we will be sharing it on social media.”