An artistic tribute to nurses who worked in the intensive care units at Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTHT) during the COVID-19 pandemic has been unveiled at St James’s University Hospital.
In the Atrium gallery of the hospital’s Bexley Wing is the work of Leeds based artist Paul Digby. Paul has exhibited widely across the UK and has work in major collections.
The work on display features drawings and sculptures of nurses from across the hospitals, as well as doctors, facilities and administrative staff.
I’ve known Paul for many years, and talking to him during 2020 he said he could see the toll that working through the pandemic was having on me. He wanted to show his appreciation for what we had done and what we continued to do.
As a united team we supported each other through the most difficult time and saw things none of us ever expected or could have imagined. What got us through was ‘looking to the future’ and facing each day together. This became the concept for the project and the sculpture title.
This exhibition is a tribute to our amazing teams and everything they do for our patients and each other.
Jane Morgan, Matron for Critical Care at LTHT
Creating this collection has been a real labour of love. I wanted to create a permanent reminder of the dedication of our wonderful NHS staff during the covid pandemic. I have been struck by their tireless compassion for patients.
A large focus in the work was peoples hands and because I know staff held the hands of so many patients during the Covid outbreaks.
It is so special to see my drawings and sculptures at St James’s Hospital, right where it all happened and alongside the clinical staff I created them for.
Artist and sculptor Paul Digby
The Intensive Care exhibition is at St James’s from 1st August to 31st October 2023.
The sculptures were cast using plaster, polymer, fibreglass and pigments.
The drawings are made from graphite on paper.
Working in partnership with Paul Digby
Contact Paul on [email protected]. For giclee prints please go to [email protected]