Art from HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs

Having been based on the grounds of HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs for over twenty years, we are pleased to showcase for the first time, a small selection of artworks produced inside the prison.

All the pieces shown here were created by individuals serving sentences in HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs and submitted to the annual Koestler Awards, a creative awards competition for people in secure settings across the UK.

This selection showcases the breadth of creativity, skill, and inventive use of materials employed by people working in restricted conditions. Some works are made on or from paper and cardboard, while others use prison-issue soap, J-cloths, and other found objects. While some works will have been produced in a classroom environment, others will have been produced in a cell with materials sourced independently by the artists.

We have chosen a range of artworks to display, many of which demonstrate intense creative focus and attention to detail. Some artists offer a playful, tactile approach, while others evoke meditations on the natural world.

We are delighted to share this glimpse into the enduring creativity inside the prison as part of our ongoing commitment to the local community. We hope these works spark curiosity and offer a moment of reflection to those passing by.

Some of these works can also be purchased.

Scroll down to the bottom if you’d like to give feedback to any of the artworks on display and we’ll pass it along to the artist.