'A beacon of light' - NHS heroes honoured with portrait display

The display is part of Primeyarc's 'These are the Hands' exhibit and is directly opposite the vaccination centre in town.

Located opposite the new NHS vaccination centre, the tribute is to promote positivity and give thanks to frontline workers.

Portraits by Andrew Dibben currently on display at Primeyarc, Market Gates. (Image: James Weeds)

The exhibit contains work by local artists, Antony Bagley, Kyle Ball and Andrew Dibben.

Mr Bagley commented: "I feel honoured to be a part of an exhibition for the Portraits for NHS heroes.

"In a year of unpredictability, heartache and fear, the staff who were working tirelessly on the front line to battle this disease have been a true beacon of light and inspiration for the nation.

Great Yarmouth-based artist Antony Bagley was inspired by NHS workers over the past year. (Image: Antony Bagley)

"It is my way to say thank you for all the amazing work that our NHS staff do, and to highlight the individuals and show the admiration and respect they fully deserve."

Mr Ball said: "It's great to see [the NHS workers] getting the recognition they deserve."

Mr Dibben commented: "In April last year, I noticed a piece on the main evening television news, about a portrait painter called Tom Croft. He was setting up an initiative to thank our hard-pressed NHS workers by painting a portrait of as many as possible of them, as a thank you gift."

Andrew Dibben was inspired by Tom Croft's #PortraitsForNHSHeroes campaign. (Image: Andrew Dibben)

Primeyarc's manager, Kaavous Clayton said: "We were very excited to hear that the vaccination centre was opening just opposite the gallery.

"We wanted to acknowledge the work that all the NHS staff have done over the past year. Which has been very traumatic for many of them, I'm sure.

Kyle Ball at Primeyarc with his two portraits as part of #PortraitsForNHSHeroes, which are currently on display (Image: James Weeds)

Mr Clayton continued: "We knew that there was already a campaign to make portraits of NHS staff and knew Andrew had done some, and as his [previous] exhibition had been cut short a couple of times by lockdowns, this was a good way of showing his work as well as supporting the work of local artists.

"If anyone else has any portraits of NHS staff that they have produced and would like contribute, we'd love to hear from you."