The artist drawing a portrait each day of the lockdown

An artist from Dumfries and Galloway has set herself the challenge of producing a portrait each day during lockdown.

Her work captures a range of local faces as well as some more well-known national figures.

One thing that many of us have missed have been the faces of our loved ones, but this theme has been picked up by Twynholm artist Ellie, of Ellie's Art House.

She said: "I sent out a message to ask people if they would like me to draw them and was blown away by how many responses I got.

"And it's just grown into something that's just been a real pleasure to just draw a face and kind of get to know them a little bit and do something to bring a little cheer to people during social distancing."

Every one of Ellie's pictures tell a story, some of families who cannot see each other because they are shielding and local heroes such as those manning our shops and post offices. She has even had requests from Kirkcudbright expats living in Australia.

Credit: ITV News

She's also captured the likenesses of national figures like NHS Nurses and, of course, Colonel Tom - who's prints she is auctioning for charity.

"Having the deadline of a day really makes me just have to do it, it's been really good for me to just speed me up and stop fussing", she said.

"I just simply work from photographs obviously you can do anything else during lockdown, I use my phone to look at the photos and sketch out with some pastel pencils and then basically colour in with oil pastels"

Credit: ITV News

A couple from the local area, Alina and Gary, were forced to postpone their wedding by the lockdown, but they received a surprise from Ellie that helped them mark what would have been their big day.

Bride, Alina, said: " I showed Gary, didn't I and his face lit up and he was really touched, and it were just so sweet. To have something on paper, it's lovely. It will be framed and it will be on the wall."

Ellie says it's not only helped the people she's painting, it's helped her too. She said: "This has really helped during isolation, one having a purpose for myself each day it's also helped me to stay connected with people, it's been really great to have that interaction with people, it's really helped me and I hope it's helped others."