This August, the historic walls of St Peter’s Church in St Albans – one of the three oldest churches in town – will hold something quietly moving. My new exhibition, Letters to Forever, will fill the beautifully refurbished space with over 200 works that explore grief not as an ending, but as an ongoing relationship with what has been lost.
Born out of my own experience of losing my father to dementia, this project began as a personal process. But as I opened a space for others to write their own “grief letters”, the work quickly became a shared journey. Each letter – almost 200 in total – has been answered with a drawing, forming the emotional core of the exhibition: a large-scale structure bearing these private-yet-universal conversations.
Supported by Arts Council England, and developed in partnership with Cruse Bereavement, Letters to Forever is more than an exhibition – it’s a living, breathing invitation to reflect, connect and transform pain through creativity.
Alongside drawings and sculpture, visitors will encounter a sound bath, a bespoke scent, performance, video art, sculpture and a guided meditation – an immersive experience that engages all the senses, held within and around this ancient church. This is not simply a viewing experience; it’s a space for contemplation and healing, rooted in both art and wellbeing.
An artist talk and performance with film screening are scheduled as part of the exhibition’s public program, offering a deeper insight into the creative process and the personal stories behind the work. I will be leading a series of workshops in collaboration with local practitioners – mindfulness-based and accessible to all – that explore loss through clay, movement, and drawing. These sessions are open to the public.
Grief can be isolating, but it is also deeply unifying. I believe in art as a vessel for empathy and connection. By creating space for shared vulnerability, Letters to Forever offers not only solace but also beauty – a chance to witness how grief, expressed and acknowledged, becomes something transformative.
I warmly invite you to step into this space. Arrive with an open heart, and leave with something deeply felt and remembered.
6–28 August 2025, St Peter’s Church, St Albans
Mon-Sat: 10am-5pm
nataliamillmanart.com/letters-to-forever
instagram.com/nataliamillmanart/
Supported by Arts Council England
