'I wanted to do something to cheer them up' - Wiltshire artist launches lockdown challenge in aid of the elderly
Heloise O'Keeffe is drawing 21 portraits, free of charge, to help a generation that have arguably suffered most during the Coronavirus crisis
Last updated 5th May 2021
An independent Wiltshire artist has kick-started a major lockdown challenge, to put a smile on the faces of elderly people.
After conversations with her grandparents revealed the full extent of their struggles with isolation and loneliness during the pandemic, Heloise O'Keeffe opted to give something back.
'Why not send a sketch?'
"I was inspired by my grandmothers, both of them live on their own. I wanted to do something nice for them, I wanted to send them a gift in the post," she told Greatest Hits.
"Being a portrait artist, I thought: 'Why not send a sketch?'
"We hear horrific stories everyday on the news. The more I heard from friends whose parents and grandparents were also passing-away, or ill in hospital ... that's when I decided to branch-out and see if anyone else might be interested".
'21 Portraits' was born. The artist, from Warminster, pledged to assemble sketches of 21 people over the age of 70 free of charge.
'Starting was probably the biggest challenge'
With all the slots for her project now taken by people across the UK, the 28-year-old described the reaction as "pretty crazy".
She joked: "Starting was probably the biggest challenge! I sat in front of lots of blank pieces of paper, feeling very overwhelmed".
Once the drawings are complete, the former Amsterdam art student hopes to showcase them in an exhibition. Lockdown restrictions mean this is likely to be held online.
Whilst her pieces will no doubt offer a chink of hope in dark times for the recipients, Heloise recognises that illustrating the pain of a whole age bracket is problematic:
"These 21 portraits absolutely don't represent that entire generation. They are just 21 individuals and I'm trying to shine some light on snippets of their lives".