Hero nurse’s portrait unveiled at Eastbourne DGH

Painted by local artist Ian Goldsmith, Tasha Rainsley’s colourful portrait has been put in pride of place outside the critical care unit, as part of a celebration of NHS Heroes.

Tasha was nominated by a colleague after being redeployed to work in critical care during covid-19.

She was randomly chosen to be the subject of a portrait from 53 nominated staff and teams across the East Sussex NHS Healthcare Trust.

On seeing the portrait for the first time Tasha said, “I was astonished, it looked just like a photo.

“I want to thank Ian, the artist, so much for doing this. It really captured me and how I was feeling.

“You can see the marks from the PPE as I’d just come out of critical care.

“It’s been a really challenging time and the local community showing their support with acts of kindness like this, has really helped.”

East Sussex Health Heroes in pictures

Tasha, who is normally an ophthalmic nurse, thanked her colleague Maria for nominating her.

She said, “A lot of my colleagues where anxious but I took it upon myself to embrace the situation and enjoy the opportunity to be part of a team and learn new skills.

“There have been some sad moments but there has been amazing, phenomenal moments, seeing people so poorly leave the unit with us all clapping and cheering. Everyone has played their part and been hero regardless of their job.”

Artist Ian Goldsmith, who painted Tasha’s portrait from a photo, said, “When this coronavirus crisis started, many of us were feeling a little helpless, including a lot of the professional artists in the national portrait group I run (www.thecbpp.org).

“We very much wanted to help in some way. Obviously we couldn’t offer any medical help, but we could paint the people who were offering that help, the NHS staff.”

They partnered with portrait artist Tom Croft, who launched the Instagram project #portraitsfornhsheroes

Ian said, “The project has grown way beyond anyone’s expectations and is, not only national, with hundreds of professional and amateur artists painting NHS staff, but has also gone global and is being replicated in other parts of the world too.

“I think the success of the idea just proves how much love there is out there for the NHS right now and I feel very privileged to be one of those entrusted to paint one of our local NHS heroes.

“I only wish we could paint them all, as they all deserved to be recorded and celebrated.”

Nurse Maria McCabe, who nominated Tasha, normally works with her at the Jubilee Eye Theatre.

She said, “Tasha has adapted really well to her new role and has dealt with the move with immense courage and determination to serve.

“I admire her so much and I feel that she deserves this.”

East Sussex Health Heroes - you sent us photos of friends and family on the frontline, now we salute them

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