Timothy Tsui, pathology site manager at MMC in Moorabbin, has reinvigorated his dialysis unit and pathology lab through the use of realist paintings.

His portraits and landscapes have been admired by patients and families who say it helps brighten their day and make the hospital a less intimidating environment.

Following the success of his art at the Moorabbin campus, some of his paintings will be on display at the staff arts exhibition at MMC in Clayton from next month.

Mr Tsui, who has worked at MMC for about 21 years, said that after running out of space to store his artworks at home he decided to bring some to work.

He began by hanging smaller paintings in the pathology outpatient waiting room about two years ago and now they line the walls of most rooms at the campus.

"The response was very encouraging and positive. A lot of patients who pass by will come back to have a look at the paintings on the wall."

Since migrating from Hong Kong in the late 1970s, Mr Tsui has been able to experiment with his passion for painting.

"It has been a longtime hobby of mine, except when I was younger it was on and off because there was so little space in Hong Kong that I wouldn't be able to set up my easel and do drawings.

"It's totally different from my job and I have been enjoying experimenting with abstract lately because my job has to be so precise."

Rebecca Lovitt, Southern Health arts curator, said the display of artwork at the hospital improved the public spaces in an aesthetic sense and played an important role in humanising an institutional environment that many patients and visitors would otherwise find alienating and threatening.

Southern Health's art collection contains more than 400 works including major pieces by renowned Australian artists such as Anthony Pryor, John Firth Smith and John Coburn.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts Rob Hudson said Mr Tsui's artwork created a warm and stimulating environment for patients.

Southern Health's Staff Arts Exhibition opens October 1, at Art Space, Level 2, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton Road, Clayton. Details: www.southernhealth.org.au