"The mildest eyes can be commanding" - Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall

A special exhibition has opened at Stockport War Memorial art gallery, featuring 11 portraits of Stockport NHS staff, each painted by a local artist. 

Alongside each portrait is a story from the sitter, detailing their experiences at the height of the pandemic. From anaesthetists to ward nurses, each story is as distinct as the portrait.

These are all startlingly faithful representations - so much so that, at the opening ceremony, those staff who feature in the portraits are instantly recognisable. 

Nonetheless, each portrait bears the hallmarks and quirks of the talented local artist who worked on it; certainly, the artworks speak of the artist as much as the sitter. 

Patriot Ofori-Aning features in one of the portraits, painted by Jackie Jamieson.

Patriot Ofori-Aning, charge nurse on ward E1, painted by Jackie Jamieson (Image via Stockport NHSFT)

Patriot worked as a charge nurse during the height of the pandemic, having moved to the UK in 2019 as an overseas nurse. 

He said it was a "proud moment" to find himself in the gallery. "As much as it was harsh, and a challenge to us, it's good to remember how each and every one of us came together", he told Nub News. 

Nesta Featherstone - associate nurse director for infection prevention and control - also had her portrait featured in the exhibition, painted by Brigid Brind.

She describes the difficulty in being expected to know everything about a new disease - and in balancing that with the need to care for her staff and for her own family. 

Nesta Featherstone, associate director of infection prevention, painted by Brigid Brind (Image via Stockport NHSFT)

Speaking of featuring in the gallery, she said: "It's a real honour. It brings a lot of memories back, it's an emotional time. 

"Things like this are important because this is our history. It's important that we've got that memory of what happened and what people went through, for our children and our grandchildren."

Nic Firth, Chief Nurse for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said "We'd like to give a huge thank you to all the artists who have done some incredible work here. 

"It is extremely poignant and moving to see the portraits alongside the words of our colleagues who are represented by them. 

"These were extremely hard times for all of us, and that certainly comes over in the stories. I would encourage everyone to come and see this exhibition, which offers a chance to reflect on one of the most turbulent times in modern NHS history."

Another portrait subject, Deb Sivori (right) pictured with artist Katie Patel (Image via Stockport NHSFT)

Councillor Frankie Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport at Stockport Council, said: "The exhibition will be a wonderful way to honour the work of all the staff who worked so hard during the pandemic to keep the NHS up and running. 

"Everyone in our communities throughout Stockport really pulled together to help each other and show true neighbourliness during the pandemic and events like this and our other projects show how grateful we all are to everyone involved."

The exhibition is free to enter, and runs until 11 April, after which the artworks will be installed at Stepping Hill Hospital.

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