Projects
Wild Wings of Hope
Wild Wings of Hope
Wild Wings of Hope in AR is a mindful Augmented Reality experience for hospice patients and families, bringing art, nature and technology together to create moments of beauty and connection in times of loss.
Inspired by the migratory journeys of birds between the UK and Africa, Wild Wings of Hope in AR explores themes of movement, renewal and hope. The project was shaped following the loss of Ed Harrison’s father and the enduring annual return of barn swallows to his family home — a quiet symbol of continuity and return.
Experiment
£20,000
Centred around two patient-crafted papercuts — a butterfly and a barn swallow — the project uses these handmade creations as triggers for an Augmented Reality experience. Scanning the butterfly causes a wildflower meadow to emerge beside the patient’s bed, while scanning the swallow releases a flock into the room, swooping and darting overhead.
These moments carry ecological meaning: the butterfly, eaten by the young barn swallow, hints at the cycles of life where one life sustains another.
Narrated by storytellers Chief Gift Amu and Cara Silversmith, the experience follows the migratory path of the barn swallow from Scotland to Africa. Developed as a prototype, the project explores how small moments of nature connection might be brought to the bedside for patients unable to access the outdoors.
Meet the artists
Ed Harrison
Lead artist
he/him
Ed is a designer, illustrator and wildlife artist. Through his creative practice, he creates experiences that connect people with the natural world, rooted in craft, conservation and collaboration.
@edharrison
Chief Gift Amu
Storyteller & Narrator
he/him
Gift Amu is a master folklorist and performance artist born and raised in Ghana. He has collected over 500 traditional stories rooted in African cultural values, oral traditions and folklore, which he shares through powerful live storytelling.
Cara Silversmith
Storyteller & Narrator
she/her/they
Cara is a vibrant storyteller and environmental educator exploring themes of identity, wellbeing and our relationship with the natural world. Drawing on a deep knowledge of Scotland’s ecology and biodiversity, she shares stories that reconnect audiences with nature.
