Hundreds of NHS workers are having their portraits painted for free, after an artist began an initiative to paying tribute to those on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis.
Tom Croft, an artist from Oxford who has painted portraits of actors, politicians, footballers and royal family members, began the project when he offered a free portrait to the first NHS worker to contact him on Instagram.
His portrait of Harriet Durkin, an A&E nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary who had just returned to work after recovering from coronavirus, became the first of hundreds, after other artists expressed interest in offering their paintbrushes for the cause.
“In the past portraits have been seen as a status symbol, or produced to celebrate someone, mark some significant achievements, milestones and potentially to elevate that person in the eyes of others,” said Croft. “It also immortalises people, as the portraits are likely to live far longer than the subjects.
“So who should be immortalised today? Who should line the walls of galleries and have future generations look back on as the people who really made a difference and stepped up, in our latest darkest hour. The people who put self-interest and self-preservation to one side and literally risked their lives knowingly on a daily basis for our well being. The NHS workers.”
He has now paired up NHS workers with hundreds of other artists including Emanuel De Sousa and Alastair Adams.
De Sousa’s portrait is of consultant anaesthetist Upeka Karaiskakis, who has been redeployed to work in intensive care. He said of painting her: “I got in touch with her to get this beautiful project going and she asked me if it would be possible to include her son and daughter. Considering that these people are looking out for us, going away from their families everyday to protect ours, I felt that this should be recognised, acknowledged and celebrated.”
Adams created a likeness of Sister Garlock, a Night Sister at a hospital in Macclesfield.
Croft added that “there are now similar initiatives based on this in Ireland, Spain, Belgium and America”.
He hopes to hold an exhibition of the artworks when the coronavirus crisis has passed and is looking into ways to make this happen.
You can follow the hashtag #portraitsfornhsheroes to see more of the portraits, and find out how to get in touch with artists if you are an NHS worker.
