Diana Phiri-Witty
Welcome To Our Home, 2025
Framed digital giclée prints and digital prints embedded in wall cladding
Community Diagnostic Centre, Mile End Hospital
Throughout the Community Diagnostic Centre, a series of framed prints and patterned wall cladding have been installed by artist and designer Diana Phiri-Witty. Divided into zones, each sub-wait has its own colourway that designates a different part of the centre.
The artist draws playful connections between the patterns embedded in the walls, and the patterns found in the framed images.
To develop the artwork, Phiri-Witty undertook extensive research into the history, demographics, and rich cultural diversity of the neighbourhood surrounding Mile End Hospital.
She explored the traditions of Bengali textiles, noting the recurring use of peacock and lotus motifs. She also researched Cockney heritage, including the vibrant history of the Pearly Kings and Queens, and investigated Essex House at 401 Mile End Road - a significant centre for the Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the twentieth century, known for championing traditional craftsmanship.
Drawing these strands together, Phiri-Witty created a series of welcoming living room scenes that celebrate the diverse communities living around Mile End Hospital. The works reflect a sense of home, belonging, and shared cultural identity.
As part of the project, a staff workshop was held to introduce Diana’s creative process and invite participants to experiment with her techniques. The session fostered a deeper connection between staff and the artwork, enabling them to feel actively involved in its development.
“I wanted to create a sense of walking into somewhere familiar, like a comfortable room at home, which might be filled with friends and family—a room where memories are made”
Photography by Matt Livey
About the Artist
Diana Phiri-Witty is an illustrator and surface pattern designer. Having studied architecture at Oxford Brookes University, she also works in project management within the NHS. She has undertaken various community engagement and public art projects, including for Croydon Council. Phiri-Witty's creative work is inspired by her background in architecture, as well as her Malawian, Zimbabwean, and South African heritage. She often uses patterns to explore themes of identity, memory, and belonging.