HEART-warming and thought-provoking work is helping people speak about the taboo of death.

The Art of Dying was the basis for an exhibition held at the University of Bolton on Thursday.

It included artwork by people involved with palliative and end of life care, patients and relatives and was displayed as part of a collaboration between Bolton Hospice, Bolton Foundation Trust and the university.

The project encourages people to talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement and to make plans for end of life.

Dr Barbara Downes works as a consultant in palliative medicine at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

Her role involves caring for patients facing serious life shortening illness, ensuring that they have their physical, emotional and practical needs managed as well as possible.

She said: "Dying is a great taboo and can be so difficult to talk about. These days we have great expectations of health care; for us to live longer, for illness to be cured and life prolonged.

"But death happens, it’s a fact of life for everybody and it happens in different ways.

"We all need to consider what, if the worst happens, you would want; open conversation about these things does so much to help families cope with death, and bereavement

"Today’s event aims to deal with that taboo, talking about death doesn’t make it happen but does help us all deal with it better."

Twenty-three pieces of artwork were submitted for the event in the university's Social Learning Zone, as well as Mexican “Day of the Dead” skulls decorated by pupils of Romiley Out of School Club.

Work included canvas paintings - from abstract patterns to butterflies - collages and poetry.

Members of the public are invited to attend and vote for the best piece which could then feature in a Manchester-wide exhibition Whitworth Gallery in Manchester during Dying Matters Week on May 11.

All work will go into a ‘virtual gallery’ on the day, with others on display in the gallery.

Artwork submitted for the regional competition will also be featured in an online virtual gallery at www.artofdying.co.uk during April, where visitors to the site can vote for their favourite piece.

Leigh Vallance, chief executive of Bolton Hospice, added: "We collaborate in many ways and today it is our joint commitment to the Dying Matters coalition who promote National Dying Matters week in May.

"Today’s event reflects thoughts and feelings about death by the contributors which are heart-warming, challenging and thought provoking."

Dying Matters coalition is made up of 32,000 member organisations across England and Wales with the aim to encourage people to talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life.