Poetry, Painting & Place: Remembering Barry Docks Through Art

Today’s session was a powerful blend of storytelling, creativity, and local pride. We were joined by a gentleman who kindly shared his own poems about Barry Docks, rich with memory and meaning. His words sparked conversation, nostalgia, and inspiration.

Using the poems as a creative springboard, we then painted tiles with acrylics, capturing scenes of Barry Docks. To support everyone’s creativity, we also provided photographs of the docks as visual prompts, helping people connect their memories to the page.

Occupational Therapy Benefits

🖌 Emotional Expression & Identity – Painting and poetry offered a space for self-expression and personal storytelling, supporting identity and emotional wellbeing.

📸 Memory Stimulation – The combination of poems and historic photos helped unlock memories, encouraging reminiscence and meaningful reflection.

🧠 Cognitive Engagement – Interpreting imagery, using colour, and translating ideas onto tile activated planning, focus, and problem-solving.

🎨 Fine Motor Skills – Painting detailed scenes helped maintain hand coordination and control, essential for daily tasks.

💬 Social Connection – Sharing memories of Barry Docks opened up rich conversations and a shared sense of place and belonging.

Today’s session reminded us that creative expression rooted in community and memory can be a deeply therapeutic experience—honouring the past while creating something beautiful in the present.