“Remembering Anna” is a painting I felt compelled to do. Honouring the families who have lost loved ones to MND.
Until my dear friend was diagnosed with this horrendous disease, I’ll be honest I was quite naive. Never have I seen anyone go through the hell she did. Seeing her frail body decline quickly, while her mind so alert but unable to communicate, was heartbreaking.
Years on after her passing, I’m reminded of Anna. A client asked me to paint the flowers from her mother’s rambling country garden, who sadly had succumb to the nightmare of MND too. The flowers were picked during a last minute stroll through the garden before the handover of selling her mother’s house. When asked to paint them, I felt the connection and heartache both families had experienced. While holding the flowers I even felt they resembled my friend. I just had to paint!
My painting depicts my friend’s sweetness, flowers leaning over to cast a gentle shadow. While the crystal glass resembles her strength amongst confusion in her mind while unable to talk.
MND has taken too many from us, I hope “Remembering Anna” will raise some awareness to a disease that deserves to be understood
