Artworks to cheer up sick children by brightening the walls of sterile surrounds will be on display tonight when an exhibition "by kids for kids" opens in Dubbo.

Operation Art is a touring exhibition of paintings by school students to lift the spirits and ease the pain of sick kids and will be at Dubbo Private Hospital for the next month.

The works, ranging from the brightly coloured innocent and naïve paintings of kindergarten children to the sophisticated skilful imaging of high school students, are created in a variety of media including drawing, painting, collage, photography and computer graphics.

The school students, aged between five and 15, have created their artworks with the knowledge they'll put a smile on a sick child's face.

Documented research has shown that creating a beautiful environment in hospitals helps the healing process, exhibition tour co-ordinator Fiona Steel says.

"It's known as the therapeutic value of visual arts," Ms Steel said.

"If you get rid of the sterile atmosphere that is usually associated with hospitals by creating a beautiful environment through art, it's proven people get better quickly.

"The works are lovely - fresh, vibrant and very colourful."

Operation Art, an initiative of the Children's Hospital at Westmead and the NSW Department of Education and Training, features 53 paintings by school children whose works have been selected from more than 600 artworks statewide.

Dubbo School of Distance Education student Anna Tenne's artwork Discover Africa - a skillfully drawn and clever interpretation of Africa's wild animals - is among the works.

Dubbo Regional Gallery is hosting the exhibition but due to problems with space, is displaying the works at Dubbo Private Hospital until November 21.

At the end of the tour, the artworks will become part of the permanent collection at the Children's Hospital.

Sue Lister, Dubbo Private Hospital manager, will officially open the exhibition tonight at 6pm.