A PAINTING of two NHS heroes by a young Devon portrait artist is to feature in a new book showcasing some 300 heroic healthcare workers, the proceeds of which will go to NHS charities.

The work by Chudleigh-based artist Amelia Webster was chosen for inclusion in the book Portraits for NHS Heroes to be published on November 12.

The concept for the book came out of a project initiated during lockdown by artist Tom Croft, a former contestant - like Amelia – in television’s Portrait Artist of the Year competition.

His idea was for artists to gift a portrait to an NHS worker who had put their own life on the line to keep others safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. He thought it would be a wonderful way to say thank you for all they have done and continue to do.

Amelia immediately contacted Tom to say she’d like to take part and was paired up with anaesthetist Bernadette Lomas.

She asked Amelia to paint her together with her husband JP, also an anaesthetist. The couple, who work in hospitals in Manchester and Bolton, wanted a joint portrait to give to their children as something positive to come out of an awful situation.

Said Amelia: ‘I am super proud to have my portrait of Bernadette and JP included alongside the wonderful images of NHS workers chosen for the new book.

‘It was an absolute honour to paint Bernadette and JP. What struck me was their positivity in this whole situation. I wanted my portrait to reflect this so I painted it in a looser style and with a brighter colour palette than I’d normally use.’

Amelia, who moved last month to her new studio in Chudleigh, added: ‘Inspired by Tom’s initiative, I put out a call in my home town of Chudleigh, offering a free pencil sketch to local keyworkers – my way of saying thank you to the people who’ve played such a vital role in my community.

‘All kinds of key workers got in touch for a drawing – shop assistants, ambulance drivers, care workers and police officers.

‘A portrait is more than an artistic representation of somebody. Historically, a portrait celebrated a person beyond their lifespan and often elevated their status in the eyes of others.

‘Who deserves to be immortalised today? I’d say the key workers who have put self-interest aside and risked their lives every day for the sake of others.’

Since March Amelia has also been working on a series of oil paintings of other people in her local community, including her then neighbour Brenda, with whom she forged a strong friendship as a result of the experience of relying on each other during lockdown.

Amelia’s #portraitsfornhsheroes painting of Bernadette and JP already features in an online exhibition curated by Paintings in Hospitals. The new book, available from independent local bookshops, Bloomsbury’s website and Amazon, will be a lasting physical record of NHS workers at their most challenging time. All royalties will go to NHS Charities Together.