Coronavirus cartoons on wheelie bins across Oxfordshire

Jan Farnes initially painted the cartoons for her local refuse collectors in Hereford, where she is currently shielding, to thank them for providing a friendly and efficient service.

After displaying three different cartoons on her own wheelie bin, they soon appeared in Oxfordshire when her daughter, Alison Beaver, shared them on social media.

Mrs Farnes then branched out and painted those on the front line that were not getting as much public recognition, such as supermarket assistants, delivery drivers, builders and vets.

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She then decided that these key workers deserved credit too, and a title page depicting these workers was created for the ever-growing portfolio.

Mrs Beaver said she posted pictures of the cartoons on both her personal Facebook page and in the Freeland Covid-19 mutual aid Facebook group, and has been inundated with positive responses since.

Many people have suggested the cartoons be made into a calendar, cards or a book, with the proceeds going to charity, an idea Mrs Beaver is currently looking into.

“Friends and family started getting in touch asking if they could print them and use them on their own wheelie bins,” she said.

“I looked out the window once and saw the binmen smiling and taking photos of the cartoons, which was really great to see.

“I’ve heard from one neighbour that he’d had requests for them from as far as Cambodia, Vietnam and America but I’m not sure if they’ve made it on bins there.

“Shops have been putting them up though and there’s one still up in the Co-op in Long Hanborough.”

So far, Mrs Farnes has created 21 cartoons, depicting a range of workers, including police officers, teachers, farmers and public transport workers.

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Mrs Farnes, a former primary school teacher, is no stranger to getting creative, having had pieces exhibited locally in the past.

“She said it gave her something to do, especially at the beginning of lockdown when the rules were a lot tighter,” her daughter said.

“She wanted to do something to represent these groups of workers, that maybe aren’t paid as much or receive as much recognition, but have done such an important job to keep the country running throughout all this.

“Hopefully, the cover is a fitting tribute to them and to all our medical staff, many of whom so tragically died, and continue to put others before themselves every single day.

“In the past she’s done a lot of horse racing pictures, but more than anything else, she does animal portraits on request.

“She mainly does animals as she says she finds humans more difficult but she’s taken it on in her stride.

“Mum is very modest and amazed her cartoons have attracted any attention at all.

“I think everyone just needs that bit of cheering up in these circumstances and and that’s the whole point of all this, to show some good can come out of it too.”