Transform Your Workspace: How Colourful Abstract Art Boosts Employee Wellbeing, Happiness and Retention
The question is…
What are they saying?
A blank, corporate room isn’t just uninspiring, it’s a missed opportunity. The right commissioned abstract art doesn’t hang around looking pretty. It works. It shifts how people think, collaborate, and feel about showing up to work, moreover, it can significantly improve employee wellbeing, happiness and productivity.
People respond emotionally and intuitively to abstract art. For some, a piece might feel calming and meditative, while others find it energising and uplifting. That’s the beauty of abstraction. It meets people where they are emotionally while still engaging them visually.
The Science Behind Art and Employee Wellbeing
The physical workspace has a profound impact on our mental health and performance, indeed, research consistently supports this.
For example; Dr Craig Knight has studied the psychology of working environments for over a decade at the University of Exeter. His findings are striking: he found that people working in spaces enriched with art worked approximately 15% faster than those in lean, minimal offices, they also experienced fewer health complaints. Exposure to art in the workplace reduces stress and improves overall wellbeing. Even brief interactions with artwork can enhance mood and cognitive function.
Dr Knight puts it simply:
“If you enrich a space people feel much happier and work better; a very good way of doing this is by using art.”
Why Colour and Movement Matter
Imagine walking into a grey, beige, or white-walled room, how does it feel? Now imagine stepping into a room filled with colour and visual movement. The difference is immediate, isn’t it? Colourful abstract art creates energy in a space, bringing it to life. It’s the swirling brushstrokes, the interplay of colours, the texture and sense of motion on canvas, that work together to create an atmosphere that feels vibrant.
Bright colours activate our nervous system, releasing dopamine (the feel-good chemical). The complexity and movement in abstract work engages our minds keeping our brains active and curious. The result? Better focus and creativity.
Why does this matter in busy corporate environments? Well, your team moves through meeting rooms and offices in a heightened state of focus, with stress from deadlines and decisions weighing on them. Art that is both calming and energising provides a visual respite, that allows the mind to wander and reset, even if only for a moment and those moments add up. They contribute to better mental health, reduced burnout, and a more positive workplace culture, which is great for employee wellbeing.
Art Is More Than Aesthetics: It Creates a Professional, Welcoming Atmosphere
I completed a commission for the Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre (SBREC) in London. They had a meeting room that was a blank canvas. It was bright and spacious, with crisp white walls, and a grey carpet, however, it didn’t have any windows or natural light, and the overall atmosphere felt a little cold.
The brief was straightforward: bring colour and life to the space, maintain professionalism, but add warmth, by creating abstract paintings inspired by the magnolia flower. The result? A series of vibrant, colourful abstract paintings that completely transformed the room.
The Magnolia Meeting Room now feels warm, welcoming, and energising. The clients immediately commented on how much more professional and colourful the room appeared. You can learn more about that commission here.
The Retention Factor
Here’s something that often gets overlooked: employee retention. Attracting top talent is hard. Keeping them is even harder. People spend a significant portion of their lives at work, and increasingly, they’re choosing employers based on more than salary and benefits because workplace culture and environment matter too.
When you invest in your physical space, you are sending a message to your team. You’re saying: “We care about your experience here. We’ve thought about your wellbeing. Your environment matters to us.” That signals far more than most managers realise.
Colourful abstract art contributes to this in a tangible way. It shows intentionality and demonstrates that someone cared enough to think beyond the basics, where the goal was creating an environment that’s genuinely enjoyable to be in. That kind of care gets noticed and becomes part of why people want to stay.
What Inspires My Work?
Following years of kayaking and diving, water is my main inspiration. My artistic practice is rooted in movement, colour, and an emotional response to water and the environments it flows through. There’s something powerful about capturing the fluidity, energy, and mystery of nature in abstract form.
When I create pieces for corporate spaces, I’m thinking beyond decoration. I consider the people who will be experiencing those paintings daily. What do they need to feel? Do they need to be energised for a brainstorming session? How about feeling calm for a difficult meeting? or inspired for a strategic session? The colours, composition, and sense of movement are deliberately chosen to support these challenges.
This is why the commission process matters. Every workspace is different and every team has its own culture and needs. The art should reflect that. It should feel bespoke, rather than something you picked up because it matched the sofa.
Are You Ready to Transform Your Space?
If you’re thinking that your office, boardroom, or meeting room could use some colour and life, you’re already halfway there. The next step is simple: think about what you want that space to feel like. What atmosphere do you want to create? How about the mood the space should evoke? What colours speak to your organisation’s culture and values?
That’s where my detailed commission questionnaire comes in. It might look lengthy at first glance, but it’s primarily composed of tick-box questions and is designed to help you think about everything from the artwork dimensions to your current décor, budget, colour preferences, and the mood and atmosphere you want to create.
Whether you’re looking to brighten a single meeting room, energise a boardroom, or transform multiple spaces across your office, vibrant, colourful abstract art can make a real difference. Not just visually, but for your own and your employees wellbeing, your workplace culture, and your ability to attract and retain top talent.
I’d love to help you bring colour, movement, and energy to your workspace. Visit my commission page to explore how we can work together to transform your space into something truly inspiring.
