An unique exhibition of artwork produced by patients at Highgate Mental Health Centre (HMHC) opened to the public this week.

The gallery, in Dartmouth Park Hill, displayed a wide variety of paintings, exhibiting what organisers called “an exciting and very diverse range of creativity”.

While the centre has not held an exhibition like this for some years, art therapy classes are regularly available for its patients.

Annabelle Bond, arts co-ordinator at HMHC, said it was “a great opportunity for users to create art and work towards something”.

She said: “Art is a brilliant way to encourage creativity and engage in something that takes their mind away from any problems they may have.

“Centre users could produce whatever they wanted and came back with a really varied body of work with no single theme.

“I think it shows they’ve all got a different story to tell.”

The exhibition is open to the public for three months at the Highgate Centre Gallery. It aims to showcase artistic talent in Highgate and raise awareness of mental health difficulties.