Patrick says: "Many of our favourite superheroes live double-lives and Mariam is one of them - balancing family life and saving our lives. Once unmasked, we see the battle scars, we see what she's been through. Her body drips with sweat, her eyes ache, her skin cracks and her face is sore from the tight PPE mask.
Though I don't currently live in the UK, my native country, my mum worked for the NHS and Tom Croft's idea made me feel like I could do something useful for the national effort, even from afar.'
Mariam says: "I was so lucky to be paired with Patrick. His art is expressive, emotive and seems to encompass the human experience. What an experience it was! I was overwhelmed when I received the painting. I felt my eyes and my heart swell as I recognised that sore, tired face on another 13-hour shift. I appreciate now that this ‘once in a lifetime’ event will forever be part of our family's history, and it's beautifully captured in Patrick's paintings."
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