The Trouble With These Boiled Sweets will be shown in the York care home for older people that inspired the exhibition, following its run at City Screen, York.

Oliver House manager Margaret Handy has given permission for the work by York artist Phil Reynolds, Lancashire photographer Yan Preston, York digital artist Patrick Smith and nine children from St Oswald’s CE Primary School to be on display for four weeks from January 29.

“We’ve had lots of positive response to the City Screen show,” says Phil. “The manager of Haxby Hall residential home, Andy Hart, said the work was absolutely outstanding, while Margaret Handy was overwhelmed.

“She came to the launch and felt very proud as she has opened her doors to this project, which is no small thing. There’s real fear attached to the idea of entering this world but Mags has gone a long way with us to try and break down barriers and bring the outside world back into Oliver House. The promise to exhibit in the care home is confirmation of this commitment.”

Margaret had intended to bring some Oliver House residents to City Screen but sadly the icy weather defeated her best intentions.

The exhibition has brought together the trio of artists, the York schoolchildren and a University of York research team. Using photography, drawing, digital printmaking and a digital screen, each work gives a unique recording of the time spent with the residents at the home in Bishophill Junior.

“The show looks at differing perspectives of the ageing process and seeks to elevate the status of our elders through a less cynical directive,” says Phil. “It’s also a celebration of the collaborations involved so far, and a platform to help develop relationships between generations and concerned thinkers.”

The children involved attend an after-school art club run by Lucy Monkman at the school in Fulford, where they created traditional portraiture and experimented with a drawing package called artrage hooked up to a projector.

“We did three two-hour sessions, which we feel created a stir for both Oliver House and St Oswald’s, and as a result the children have got at least one portrait each in the show,” says Phil.

The school pupils were brought to the exhibition opening by their head teacher, Rupert Griffiths, who was very impressed by the work and its presentation, as was Phil. “The children are enjoying having their work up in a public exhibition,” he says. “For me, their work is equally interesting and exciting as the work done by professional artists. The quality of line and character that comes through is magical.”

The exhibition has been funded by the university as part of a project entitled Landscapes of Cross Generational Ageing, under which a research team led by Professor Mark Blythe has sought to engage older people by using technology. Phil, meanwhile, has been supported in his involvement as the exhibition co-ordinator by Arts Action York.

Both Phil and fellow artist Patrick, incidentally, have been selected to take part in the ninth annual York Open Studios from April 16 to 18.