Book cover for ‘Portraits for NHS Heroes’

A number of ROI members including Tim Benson PROI and Adebanji Alade VPROI recently participated in a fantastic art intiative to help celebrate the dedication and service of our NHS key workers.

When the UK went into lockdown in March 2020 to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, artist Tom Croft offered to paint an NHS key worker’s portrait for free. Unsure how to help and offer his support, he wanted to capture and record the bravery and heroism of frontline workers who were risking their physical and mental health for our wellbeing. Tom suggested that other artists might want to do the same. He made his offer via video message on Instagram and was immediately contacted by Harriet Durkin, a nurse at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, who had contracted Covid-19 and, now recovered, was about to return to the frontline.

Tom’s portrait of Harriet, wearing PPE, was the first in what became a global art project. The response to the initiative was staggering and Tom personally paired up 500 artists and NHS workers in the first two weeks. 

Shared for the first time in a physical format, Portraits for NHS Heroes is a collection of stunning portraits produced as part of the local project that quickly became a global initiative. Including portraits by leading artists such as Alastair Adams and Mary Jane Ansell, this book celebrates the dedication of our NHS key workers. All royalties, a minimum of £2.50 from the sale of each book, will be paid to NHS Charities Together (registered charity no. 1186569) to fund vital projects.

Copies of the book can be purchased at www.bloomsbury.com/NHSHeroes with a 30% discount off RRP using the promotion code PORTRAIT30.

Danny Howes – ‘Izzy’

Painting by Roxanna Halls

Painting by Tom Croft

Painting by Trudy Good

‘Portrait of Mark’ by Ange Bell