“I wanted to capture the humanity and fragility behind the masks, PPE and the ‘hero’ labels.
“Dr Johnston’s face may be covered, but his eyes speak volumes about the emotional and mental toll of the pandemic.”
Rosselli, whose previous work has been exhibited at The National Portrait Gallery and The Louvre, worked on the portrait throughout the year in between commissions, and as the pandemic unfolded, the message of the painting began to evolve in tandem, taking on an increasing focus on mental health.
She added: “My paintings tend to take on a mind of their own, and I found that with the second spike and the enormous emotional burden that is once again on frontline staff, Dr Johnston’s facial expression started to evolve.