HMP Erlestoke prisoners using art as part of rehabilitation

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August 4, 2026·1 min read·Updated 23 hours ago

An acrylic self portrait of a man in his prison cell. He is depicted with short red hair and facial hair, standing in front of a window. — Image caption, A self portrait of an inmate in his cell created with acrylicsBBC News

A charity is supporting the rehabilitation of prisoners by offering them the opportunity to create and sell their own artwork.

Prisoners at HMP Erlestoke, in Wiltshire, have created their own artwork as part of the Prison Art Project scheme which is supported by homeless charity ALABARÉ. Participants are able to sell their work online with 50% of the proceeds going to the artist.

Many of the participants said creativity helped with their mental health and wellbeing while others said it felt "rewarding" to produce artwork.

Laura Joy, from the charity, said: "Artwork really gives people a chance to do meaningful activity towards rehabilitation and to support better choices."

Participants are provided with an art pack full of supplies like acrylics, pencils, watercolours and pastels with the condition that they create up to four pieces of artwork.

If their work is purchased, the artist receives half of the profits with the remainder used to fund the purchase of materials for others on the scheme.

Reporting from BBC News contributed to this story.