AN ACCLAIMED Island-born marine artist and IW NHS employee has paid tribute to the work of his colleagues during the pandemic by doing portraits of them wearing Covid masks.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Martin Swan, an out of hours GP driver, began to draw portraits of his colleagues who work at in the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport.

Martin decided to take on the challenge as part of the Quay Arts Breakout project, inviting people to produce self-portraits to mark the year of the pandemic. 

Isle of Wight County Press: Martin Swan's portrait of St Mary's Hospital colleague, known as 'Alison'.Martin Swan's portrait of St Mary's Hospital colleague, known as 'Alison'.

The project was a continuation of one set up at the Newport centre 21 years earlier, which marked the dawn of the new millennium.

It proved so successful, it made the Guinness Book of Records for the most self-portraits gathered together for an exhibition.

As part of the new project collection, Martin’s first drawing was a self-portrait.

He then approached his UTC colleagues to see if they would do the same. 

Isle of Wight County Press: Martin Swan's portrait of St Mary's Hospital colleague, known as 'Charles'.Martin Swan's portrait of St Mary's Hospital colleague, known as 'Charles'.

However, not confident in their own artistic abilities, they agreed Martin could draw them instead. 

He has now completed 40 portraits of his colleagues, with a further 20 to go.

The portraits, drawn in pencil with each colleague wearing a mask — to mark one of the most turbluent times in living memory — will forever remain a visual record of Island UTC staff working through the pandemic.

The portraits are currently being exhibited at Quay Arts as part of the Breakout exhibition until the end of the calendar year — displayed alongside other self-portraits in the Michael West Gallery.

Martin said: “The drawings represent the diversity of the unit — both ethnically and professionally, which I have thoroughly enjoyed capturing.

“I hope, in the New Year, they can be displayed at St Mary’s in its exhibition area.

"I am also keen to submit them to the Portrait Society in London for display in their annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries. Fingers crossed!”

Other pieces of Martin’s work can be viewed at the Quarr Abbey exhibition, alongside work from other local artists.

His paintings are represented in private collections all over the world, including that of the Sultan of Oman.