I made this image during the first lockdown. It was part of a series I called ‘Hospital’, inspired by news reports and documentaries shown through the early stages of the pandemic, when the crisis was acute.

I was struck by the depth of concentration that was still visible through the smallest glimpse of the surgeons’ faces; the lighting reminiscent of paintings from centuries before. It was a profound and evocative scene.

Earlier this year, I decided to enter the painting to the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour 209th exhibition.

I was over the moon to receive the email with the first word, ‘ CONGRATULATIONS’ at the top! My painting was accepted and will travel to London for the show in May.

Throughout the crisis, one promise I made to myself, was to visit London to see my favourite galleries as soon as they were able to reopen.

This impossibly long list, includes the National Gallery, both Tates, the Courtauld, the National Portrait Gallery, the Wallace Collection and the Mall Galleries.

Never in a million years did I think that my first visit will include a show featuring one of my own pictures!

Update – November 2021: ‘Operation I’ has now sold.