More than 50 British and international illustrators, including many greeting card publishers and designers, have been taking part in an innovative Instagram art project entitled ‘40 days, 40 heroes’ by donating original illustrations to honour the frontline workers and everyday heroes of the Covid-19 crisis who are working tirelessly to get us through this pandemic. (https://www.instagram.com/40days40heroes/)
For a total of 40 days, up until next Wednesday (May 20), cardies and other designers are sharing new, original illustrations dedicated to a different group of heroes – from nurses, binmen, scientists and post office workers to off licence owners, teachers, delivery drivers and lots more. Each of these wonderful illustrations will be put up for auction, with all proceeds to be donated to the NHS Charities COVID-19 Appeal.
Contributing artists include many which have connections to the greeting card world, including Angela Chick, Sam Ailey, Maisy Summer, Liz Harry, Zabby Allen, Sofie Birkin, Genie Espinosa, Jamie Edler and Natalie Byrne.
While the idea for the project originated in Spain, former Moonpig creative exec Caroline Glover (who is now an art director and illustrator) and advertising creative Selina Heathcote have been behind the UK launch.
“As creatives in quarantine, we felt pretty helpless at the start of this crisis,” explains Caroline. “Bringing together artists to honour the brave workers risking their health every day is our way of showing gratitude and adding some joy and colour to lockdown life. The quality of the work on offer is exceptional, and we’re hoping it will raise a significant amount for the NHS.”
Greeting card publisher Angela Chick was delighted to be asked to contributed some artwork to the project chosing to represent the postal workers with her illustration. As she told PG Buzz: “As a greeting card publisher, the postal workers play a big role in helping me get my cards out there – both when I send orders out to customers, and when people send their messages in the post. During the lockdown, we’ve all had to make huge sacrifices and miss out on seeing the people we love. Greeting cards have been a great way of helping close that gap by letting people spread kindness through letterboxes. We couldn’t get those messages out there around the country, and around the world, without our postal workers.”Her illustration for the 40 days, 40 heroes project depicts a series of “flying envelopes, filled with love and kindness to hopefully help brighten these darker days. Just because we have to be physically distant, doesn’t mean we have to be socially and emotionally distant from those we love,” adds Angela.
To view the illustrations and place a bid, you need to visit Instagram.com/40days40heroes . Bids can be placed in the comments section, and at the end of 40 days the highest bidder will win the signed artwork.
Top: Ollie Johns thanks NHS workers.
