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Mar 2022

Last Updated: 07/03/2022

Knaresborough artist presents lockdown portraits to key workers

by Thomas Barrett

| 07 Mar, 2022

Shirley Vine painted 15 key workers to pay tribute to people on the frontline during the darkest periods of the pandemic. Her 15 subjects included a fireman, care worker, nurses, teachers and a police officer.

Knaresborough artist Shirley Vine presented her lockdown portraits to key workers on Saturday.

Ms Vine started the project to pay tribute to people on the frontline during the darkest periods of the pandemic.

Her 15 subjects included a fireman, a care worker, nurses, teachers, a police officer, refuse collector, dentist, signalman, and foodbank volunteers.

The acrylic paintings have been on display in the Chain Lane vaccination centre in Knaresborough but have now been presented free of charge to the subjects at a reception Ms Vine organised on Saturday at COGS (Centre On Gracious Street).

Ms Vine said:

“Lockdown was fine at first, as it was the time when I usually finish my watercolour classes for the year and spend time sorting the house and garden.

"That was OK for a few weeks, but I soon realised that something more was going to be needed for the future unknown time of covid.

"Tom Croft, a professional portraitist appeared on BBC TV to galvanise any artists to paint their NHS heroes. I took to this and painted 15 local frontline key workers”.

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Receiving the portraits brought back often difficult memories to the key workers who Ms Vine painted.

Deborah and Ian, from anti-food waste community group Resurrected Bites said,

“It has been a privilege and so good to be able to help when so many were desperate”.

Gee, a care worker, said,

“As the residents couldn't have visitors, we became their family, which was so important”.

Lesley, a dentist, said,

“Stunning Portraits. A poignant reminder of what we were doing and now feels like a lifetime ago”.

Sam from Noah's Ark Pre-school said:

"It was hard work but rewarding, cocooned within Noah's Ark. Shirley has captured how children's learning continued throughout and how parents valued the setting and all of the staff."

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Knaresborough artist presents lockdown portraits to key workers

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