An artist from Braithwaite has produced a startling set of paintings depicting frontline health workers in the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) they are forced to wear for protection during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jane Hanson, 73, was inspired to start work on her series of seven paintings on 1st May when she read the headlines about the controversy over the lack of PPE for frontline health workers hit the headlines.
She said: “I looked online at the full PPE kit needed to keep the staff safe and heard just how uncomfortable it was. It is like wearing a suit of armour and each had to wear a badge so people knew who they were. Meanwhile porters and cleaners, who are still on the frontline, had to work in just facemasks as there was not enough equipment to go round.
“I am 73 and so wear a face mask when I go out shopping and know just how hot even that is. I think we have all been in a funny place and the situation just sort of fired me up and I was driven to paint the images,” added Jane, who went to art school in her youth, but says she didn’t paint when she was bringing up her children. It wasn’t until she retired to Braithwaite 22 years ago from North Yorkshire that she took painting up as a hobby.
Her PPE paintings in oil and acrylic on paper with some including collage work are quite a change for Jane, whose usual works are abstract landscapes. A former member of the Go Figure life drawing group, she has jointly exhibited with the group at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake, and her work has also been on display Mrs F’s Fine Food Emporium in Main Street.