Look After You, Ian Whyte
Phil in his studio
DIRECTING THANKS TO NHS HEROES Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, it is fair to say that all of us have come away with a much greater appreciation for our healthcare workers. Classique, 218 140 720
This is particularly true for Phil Matthews of Frame Direct in Theale near Reading whose son Lewis works as a intensive care anaesthetist. Phil and the rest of his family experienced first-hand the exhaustion facing healthcare workers, so when they heard that artist Ian Whyte was offering to paint an NHS hero for free as part of the ‘Portraits For NHS Heroes’ project, they jumped at the chance to get involved.
During the first wave of the pandemic the family sent Ian a photo of Lewis asleep after a long shift, holding his daughter. When the painting was returned to Lewis, the team at Larson-Juhl was delighted to hear that Phil framed it himself using Larson-Juhl’s Classique moulding. It is now proudly displayed in Lewis’s house as a reminder of the gratitude felt by people all around the UK during the pandemic. Phil has had a long and successful career in framing, having started working for his dad’s framing shop, Frame Direct, in 1976
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after dropping out of his degree in Maths. He bought the business from his father in 1980, and succeeded in conquering the corporate side of the market, framing for hotels around the world. Phil recently sold Frame Direct to an ex-customer of his, and although he will still be involved in the business for some time, he is pleased to have been able to frame this special piece. He said: “This is a fantastic way to end a life-long career in picture framing, and I am very much looking forward to spending more time with my family and going fishing!”
‘Portraits For NHS Heroes’ gained national attention, and the portraits painted by artists around the country have since been published as a book - a testament to NHS workers at their most challenging time, with all royalties going to NHS charities. The full set of portraits is also available to view online. https://artsandculture.google.com/ project/healthcare-heroes
