A talented artist has been producing unique portraits for NHS staff at Northampton General Hospital.
Lois Sawford was inspired to come up with the colourful portraits by her step-mum who works in intensive care and has been treated patients throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The #portraitsforNHSHeroes has been trending on social media throughout lockdown.
"My step-mum sent me a link to some from other artists and they were all a very realistic style, which is not my style at all," Lois said.
"She told me to have a go, so I did one for her but I said I doubt anyone would want one as they are just little cartoon illustrations but as my partner works for NGH, I decided to do one for him too.
"I posted both of these on my art page and said I am offering them for free for NHS staff. Later that evening, we were doing a virtual quiz with my dad and step mum over FaceTime and whilst we were doing this, I got a request pop up on my iPad for a portrait, then as the quiz progressed I got more and more.
"By the end of the evening, I had 40 requests. I couldn’t believe it! I started working on them straight after the quiz and continued the next day.
"Although the requests kept coming and over the next three days I had done more than100 portraits, these were mainly from people at NGH but I also had requests from further afield such as Manchester and Lincolnshire.
"I had one request from a lady who asked if I could do her team in one, she said don’t worry there isn’t that many of us, only 16! I was expecting like five, but I managed to get them all in one picture."
The feedback has been very positive from the recipients, Lois said.
"I have had so much feedback saying how grateful people are for them and it is such a lovely thing to do and I just feel like I’m only doing a little picture, these guys are saving lives and putting their own at risk every day.
"One person’s feedback bought a tear to my eye because he said I am the talk of the team at the hospital and not to underestimate how much joy I have bought them during this time."
To see more of Lois's creations, visit https://www.facebook.com/LoisDoodles/
