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AIMS To discuss the experience in using a visual arts-based method of draw and talk with hospitalized children, lessons learnt and strategies for practice. DESIGN Discussion paper. DATA SOURCES Data were drawn from two sources: first, the databases Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SCOPUS were searched for approaches to visual arts- based data collection with children. Secondly, relevant literature and the experience of our research team using visual arts-based data collection with children informed this paper. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING This paper draws on the literature and our experiences of using a visual arts-based approach when conducting research with hospitalized children and foreshadows practical approaches that can be applied when undertaking such research. CONCLUSION When undertaking research with sick children a high level of reflexivity is essential when planning and implementing a visual arts-based approach. IMPACT The paper discusses a visual arts-based method and the issues that are important considerations to the conduct of research with hospitalized children. We provide suggestions for practice and argue that nurses and healthcare professionals researching with hospitalized children using an arts-based method, practice a high level of reflexivity.