Oxford's NHS heroes celebrated in portraits book

The book has been created by Oxford artist Tom Croft, who when lockdown started in March offered to paint an NHS key worker’s portrait for free.

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The idea proved popular and he encouraged other portrait artists to follow suit and display them on Instagram at #PortraitsForNHSHeroes.

Karl Ellis with his portrait and the book. Picture: Oxford Health

Within two weeks he had personally paired 500 artists and health workers.

Among them was Karl Ellis, who appears on the front of the book, called 'Portraits for NHS heroes', which is being used to raise money for NHS Charities Together.

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Mr Ellis, a healthcare assistant from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, said he took part because he thought it would be nice to have a painting and it has led to him 'seeing his picture everywhere'.

The father-of-three's portrait was painted by Tim Ellis who described it as a ‘pleasure and honour’ to paint him.

Chiara Bonfatti by Georgia Mallin

Mr Ellis, originally from Jamaica, works at the medium secure Evenlode inpatient unit in Oxford, which supports men with learning disabilities.

Another NHS worker from Oxford who appears on the front of the book is Izzy Speight, a nurse at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH).

She said: "I never imagined having my portrait painted as an NHS nurse during a pandemic, but Danny Howes had a clear idea to create my portrait using photos I took having just completed a 13 hour shift in full PPE. When I saw the finished painting I was struck by the emotion Danny had captured, reflecting the pressures that nurses and the NHS are under."

Dozens of staff at the trust, which runs the John Radcliffe Hospital, also had their portraits done.

Mr Croft, explaining on his website what inspired him, said: "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 wellbeing. The NHS workers. Absolutely.”