New Exhibition at National Maritime Museum Cornwall Explores Art and Mental Health Recovery

A powerful new exhibition opening on Friday 30 January at the Museum will explore the role of creativity in mental health recovery through the work of local artist Jane Southern.

Part of our experimental and organic programme of artist-led exhibitions, this upcoming display brings together paintings, personal reflections and interviews to tell an honest story of grief, resilience and artistic discovery.

Jane Southern took up painting just five years ago, following a series of traumatic and sad events in her life. With no formal training in painting or drawing, she turned to art as a way of coping. A keen lifelong photographer, Jane drew on her strong eye for composition and began using her own photographs of Falmouth and the Cornish coast as the starting point for her paintings.

Learning to paint offered Jane a vital distraction from grief, a challenge that demanded focus, and a creative outlet that brought comfort during an otherwise overwhelming time. Visitors to the exhibition will gain insight into this journey through candid filmed interviews and Jane’s own reflections, which bring an added layer of openness and vulnerability to the work on display.

The exhibition will feature a wide range of artwork, from Jane’s earliest paintings to her most recent pieces, alongside works that reflect the techniques and confidence she has gained through attending art workshops across Cornwall. Together, they chart a clear narrative of artistic struggle, growth and self-discovery, one that we hope visitors will find relatable.

By sharing her personal experience so openly, Jane Southern’s exhibition offers more than a display of paintings. It tells a human story, one of loss, creativity and hope, and invites visitors to reflect on the transformative power of art.

The exhibition opens Friday 30 January and runs until Sunday 19 April 2026 at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.