Way back in March 2020, when the country was first plunged into lockdown measures none of us could have foreseen the extent of what was about to unfold. Nor could most of us understand why lockdown had to happen…
For those working on the frontline NHS the true extent of the crisis was all too apparent though. In danger of becoming overwhelmed, without enough Intensive Care beds to cope with the projected numbers who might require those assets, something had to be done to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
Faced with all of this the people of the NHS got on with their jobs. Knowing about the personal risks they were nonetheless determined to do what they could for those unfortunate enough to need help. They still are…
Most of us felt isolated and a bit confused at first with the ever-changing advice being given. Some however found ways of making a positive contribution, often through small personal gestures - finding a way of taking back some level of control in their lives.
One such person was Tom Croft. A renowned portrait painter from Oxfordshire, Tom offered to paint a portrait for free of the first NHS key worker to contact him. Subsequently his portrait of nurse Harriet Dunkin of Manchester Royal Infirmary became the first in what grew into a huge body of work…
Using Instagram, Tom suggested that other artists might also like to do as he had done. From this the idea took hold and became a Global art project…!
Portraits in all types of media followed. Oils, Watercolours, Acrylics, Pencils, Digital, Ceramics, Mosaics, Murals… thousands of works were created-an awesome collection of work from people showing their solidarity with the NHS folk who had in the eyes of most, become Heroes!
Ultimately an online exhibition was launched via Google and subsequently, again with Tom very much involved it was suggested that a printed collection should be produced which could be used to remember and salute these folk and also as a means to raise funds for NHS charities together.
Bloomsbury Publishing took up the project and the result is this fabulous Art book, which contains jut a small proportion of the many thousands of works donated by so many artists - epic!
For my part it was a huge privilege to be a small part of this initiative from Tom, by contributing a handful of portraits. It is also a huge personal honour to have one of these portraits included in the book.
Nominated by their colleague Rhian Mason, Deb and Claire are hard working CDU(COVID Ward) sisters at the Prince Charles Hospital (PCH) in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. My daughter Katie is a Doctor and also worked on the same ward during those early days of lockdown… They and everyone else who is a key worker with the NHS are amazing and we salute them…!
Best
DC