Tain artist Inge Smith puts NHS in coronavirus tribute frame after chance find
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A CHANCE find during a lockdown tidy-up sparked a creative urge which has kept an Easter Ross artist super-busy ever since.
When she stumbled across a stash of unused mini canvases, Inge Smith decided to paint a symbol of hope rainbow to decorate the window of her Tain studio. Inspired by the fundraising efforts of Colonel Tom Moore, she took it a step further by offering to create custom-made canvasses to raise some funds for NHS charities, incorporating the bird figures which have become her trademark.
The Over the Rainbow series has triggered orders from around the country with people requesting birds or animals that mean something to them to create unique mementoes of a remarkable moment in history.
She said: "Lockdown for paint based artists like myself is nowhere near as bad as for many others. A painter’s life is solitary at the best of times. These have proved really popular, with 100 per cent of profits being donated. I have kept the price within an attractive donation amount, so they are excellent value and make really cute gifts.
"It's a project that has cheered me up and stopped me sitting about worrying – no time for that now! It’s really important to have projects! I will never raise as much as Colonel Tom and others but it’s a wee something to help other people do jobs that I’m in no way trained for. And to show my appreciation for what the NHS does for us all.
"I know that some of the canvases have gone to nurses and other NHS workers and I have been told that they liked them. It's nice to think it may have brightened their day."
And while the public health crisis has hit her business, Ms Smith, whose mum Inger is also a talented artist, is making the best of postal deliveries and her website to keep in touch with her audience.
She said: "I’m keeping the Studio Smith Gallery going by increasing online sales. We are really lucky with all the tech that’s around now! Maybe I will finally buy a selfie-stick and do a virtual summer show complete with virtual prosecco!"
Her NHS tribute canvasses are painted on 13x13cm and 20cm x 20cm box canvasses and range in price from £20 to £30.
She's contactable on Facebook at Studio Smith Tain or email at ingebjorg.smith@btinternet.com
