This time last year Claire was working in intensive care where she was redeployed at the neginning of the pandemic to help look after patients with Covid-19.
This painting by Lisa Timmerman of Claire at work is a poignant reminder of a truly dreadful time when, at the beginning of the pandemic, Claire risked her own health and well-being to help others.
Lisa has written about the painting:
“The image we agreed to use for the portrait was taken early on in the pandemic. Claire was one of the first to be redeployed to intensive care to help with the Covid patients at a time when there were serious concerns about the lack of adequate PPE.
Claire’s experience so early on was so profound and intense that we agreed it would be appropriate to go with the image that really emphasised the setting.
Whilst painting I kept thinking, where would we be without people like Claire, stepping forward when the rest of us take two steps back?!
I hope Claire is alright & able to deal with the traumatic situations she has witnessed & tried her hardest to resolve. I think a surgeon must be made of strong stuff but this year has pushed everyone to the edge and I felt for Claire as I painted her.”
We are incredibly grateful to @lisatimmermanpaints and the Instagram initiative of @tomcroftartist @portraitsfornhsheroes for encapsulating this moment so memorably and with such generosity.