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Andrew Hunt admits it was initially daunting, when his wife - a minor injuries ENP at the Royal Hallamshire - volunteered to return to Northern General’s A&E department during the pandemic, and decided to immortalise the unique snapshot in time in a painting.

The haunting image shows Kate Hunt masked and gowned, and Andrew says the painting is a tribute to all of those within the NHS who have battled coronavirus for the past four months.

“When the call out for more help came, my wife stepped up and put her name forward,” says Andrew, aged 47.

Sheffield artist Andrew Hunt painted his wife Kate an ENP in Sheffield's A&E department to create a work of art that captures the moment. Andrew, Kate, Winnie and George with the painting.

“Of course I was worried, but I was so proud of her, and a few weeks into lockdown, I started the painting.

“Kate took a photo for me of herself in full PPE - mask, gown, visor, gloves - and then when she got home I took some other close-up images of her face, so I could start putting it all together.”

During lockdown, Andrew - who has been working as a professional artist for over 20 years - was forced to close his studio at Yorkshire Artspace and set up a make-shift studio in his bedroom.

In between his commissions, and helping to look after and homeschool the couple’s two children, Andrew would return to the painting.

Kate Hunt, as painted by husband Andrew Hunt, in full PPE

“I wanted my kids to play a role in it too,” he explains.

“I was inspired by all of the messages of support in people’s windows, and asked my children, Winnie and George, to replicate theirs in the painting, so behind Kate one of them did a rainbow, and the other did an ‘NHS’ and a ‘Stay Safe.’

“It meant a lot to me, as an artist, to respond to what I was seeing Kate and her colleagues go through every day, to archive this strange and rare moment in history, and to celebrate the efforts of Kate and her team, as well as all those across the country.

“I’m a narrative artist, and my focus is always in telling stories through my paintings, so there way I could ignore such a major story, particularly one having such an impact on my own family.”

Sheffield artist Andrew Hunt painted his wife Kate an ENP in Sheffield's A&E department to create a work of art that captures the moment. Andrew and Kate Hunt with the painting.

The finished painting has already attracted interest from a gallery in London, and Andrew reveals he would love it to form the basis for a bigger collection, celebrating the efforts of everybody in the city involved in the fight against the pandemic; from delivery drivers, and checkout people, to postmen and taxi drivers.

“I don’t know yet what will happen with the painting, but ultimately I feel like its place will be with the hospital trust,” says Andrew, whose paintings have appeared in galleries across the country, including the National Portrait Gallery.

He has also created artwork for BBC’s Peaky Blinders, and just recently completely a portrait of Sir Keith Burnett, as Vice Chancellor of Sheffield University.

Of the painting, he adds: “It’s a piece of public art, that archives a moment in history, so I feel like it needs to be seen.”

Visit ‘HuntForArt’ on Instagram to find out more about Andrew’s work.

Sheffield artist honours wife and her NHS colleagues in painting that ‘archives a moment in history’