Local artist’s donation brings colour and comfort to Causeway Hospital’s MRI Unit
A specially created artwork is bringing added colour and comfort to Causeway Hospital’s MRI Unit, thanks to the generosity of a local artist.
Brian Willis’ painting, The MRI Noisemakers, depicts a vivid scene featuring a band on stage, a scanner and a family arriving for an appointment — but not quite as you might imagine. All the human figures have been replaced by teddy bears, while the band is made up of a variety of animals playing musical instruments.
Explaining more about his inspiration for the piece, Brian said:
“When having an MRI scan, the patient is subjected to an array of strange noises. In my painting, I have envisaged that these unusual noises are made by this dispirit group of animals playing various instruments.
“There are lots of small, fun details throughout the painting, and my hope is that it gives people something else to focus on, even if just for a few moments, helping to take their mind off the scan and bring some extra warmth to the environment.”
Radiographer Lesley Thompson said the painting has quickly become a real talking point for both patients and staff: “Since it was installed, so many people have commented on the painting, and it has been warmly received by patients and colleagues alike.
“We’re very grateful to Brian for his generosity and support — the artwork adds real character to the Unit and has helped to create a more welcoming environment for those attending the MRI service.”
90-year-old Brian is a retired BBC TV director and producer with a lifelong hobby for sketching and painting, which started in his early teens.
“That’s about 70 years of making mistakes and discovering how to rectify them,” he said Brian. “Schools, musical societies and pantomime groups on the North Coast will remember me from my time with them painting stage backcloths.
“Over the years I have learnt this skill and now use it just to entertain folk.”
Brian’s generous donation follows a previous act of kindness, when many years ago he gifted a similar style painting to Antrim Area Hospital.
9th June 2026
