An artist who battled mental illness is displaying portraits of people who guided him through his problems in the grounds of the world’s oldest psychiatric hospital.

George Harding’s exhibition There is Good in Us challenges the negative perception of mental health portrayed in popular culture.

Opening at the Bethlem Gallery in Beckenham on Wednesday March 7, the show incorporates elements of painting through different approaches, one of which is portraiture.

George, a graduate of University of the Arts London, said: “These paintings are of self portraits, and portraits of artists, friends, family and mental health professionals who have guided and helped me through my mental health problems.

“Together they have given me perspective on a journey through to the other side where there is hope in being able to cope with my illness.

“The work encourages people to look at ‘us’ in a way that is celebratory, unconventional and can teach us something about different ways of being.”

George’s self-portraits begin with photographs in the mist of a shower mirror surface that fragments, distorts and dissolves the figure.

Using painting techniques of blurring and pointillism his work abstracts the real into colour and light showing a disassociation from reality.

He is inspired by many impressionist painters, their use of colour and light, as well as the life stories of many of these artists.

Other inspirations include Edvard Munch and Gerhard Richter.

News Shopper: Artist who battled mental illness displays work in Bethlem Gallery

George added: “For me the act of painting and creating is a necessity.

“It speaks to me of emotion and internal feeling that become understood through its making.

“It also surprises me because it shows me things I could not see before.

“I see in new ways through the experience of painting.”

Dr Norbert Andersch, George’s former psychiatrist, will be featuring in the exhibition alongside other mental health professionals.

He said: “My impression is that in his paintings, and his very own style, George has found a channel to express himself and to communicate in a unique way which I am sure helps him and is certainly an inspiration to others.”

The exhibition at Bethlem Royal Hospital in Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham runs between March 7 and 30.

It is open from 11am to 6pm between Wednesday and Friday and on Saturday March 10 from 11am to 6pm.

Entry is free.

For more information visit www.bethlemgallery.com