An island artist has given her first NHS heroes portrait to a nurse who works with Covid-19 patients.

Beth Louella, an artist and illustrator who lives just outside Ramsey, showed her appreciation to the nurse - Ciara - by painting a free portrait of her as part of a global project called #portraitsfornhsheroes.

The colourful painting shows nurse Ciara wearing a mask with a halo affect around her.

Beth said: ’It felt very special to celebrate this nurse in such a unique, visual way.

’Words cannot express the gratitude we have for our NHS and care workers at such a challenging time and I appreciate being able to use my skills to show appreciation in this way.

’As an artist I love to celebrate people in my art and I attribute great value to love, kindness and compassion - to focus on all these things in this portrait was a very positive experience.’

Her work was gratefully received by the nurse.

Ciara said: ’I feel completely honoured. I’ve been a nurse for 12 years and it feels more than ever such a huge part of my identity. It’s the year of the nurse and midwife this year. I didn’t really know what that would mean.

’But look- what a year! I feel so proud to do the job I do.

’I love this painting. I love that such an important part of me, my identity, my life, is being celebrated in such a beautiful and colourful way.

’For me, nursing is about giving. We give so much of ourselves to others. It’s so beautiful and special to receive something back. It’s really touched my heart.’

Beth has worked on the portrait for a while, trying to get a good likeness of Ciara while adding thoughtful symbolism.

’I used the white patterns in the background to signify a halo, linking in with the caring and sacrifice involved with nursing, especially at the moment,’ she said.

’I used metallic silver in this painting in the dots across the mask and in the words describing the nurse which forms part of her halo, I often use silver and gold in my art to depict the unseen and the spiritual.’

Beth is currently a third of the way through painting a portrait of an island midwife, Bryony Manning, and is also working on portraits of an A&E nurse in England and a paediatric nurse in Wales.

The project #portraitsfornhsheroes was created by Oxford-based artist Tom Croft who put up an Instagram post offering to paint an NHS worker for free.

Artists put up a ’green screen’ post offering one free portrait to the first NHS worker to get in touch. Beth, however, chose to create four.

Beth added: ’Realising how special this process has been for the nurse involved has been very important for me and knowing that my other NHS heroes are looking forward to their portraits being painted means a lot.’