Artist transforms Mytholmroyd field into tribute to NHS fighting coronavirus

An artist has created a huge tribute to the heroes of the NHS in a WestYorkshire field.

The 100m-wide NHS logo, filled with hearts and signed off with a "thank you", has been created by Jamie Wardley, in Mytholmroyd.

Mr Wardley, who is the artistic director and founder of the Hebden Bridge-based Sand In Your Eye studios, said he had created the work to thank NHS staff ahead of the Clap For Carers on Thursday evening (16 April).

He said the painting, which was created while sticking to social distancingrules on a private field on the site of his studio, was "to celebrate and thankall the NHS staff working on the frontline to fight the coronavirus pandemic".

Mr Wardley said:

Mr Wardley, whose sister-in-law is an ICU nurse, said he wanted the painting to coordinate with the Thursday evening Clap For Carers.

He said: "I think everyone is affected by this because we've all got lovedones that are vulnerable and I think it's a really beautiful thing that everyone's pulling together to protect the vulnerable in society.

"Every Thursday we're hanging out of our window clapping.

"That's an amazing thing that everyone is isolated but at that moment everyone comes together. So clapping on a Thursday is a very special moment."

Sand In Your Eye is known for its sand and ice sculptures as well as sanddrawings and pumpkin carvings.

The studio won the Visual Art Award at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards for its 2018 collaboration with Oscar winner Danny Boyle to create public art for Armistice Day on 32 beaches across the UK.