A hand-crafted mosaic by a local artist has been donated by the City of Durham Parish Council to NHS staff in Durham in recognition of their extraordinary work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Artist Susan Warlock spent 8-10 hours a day for 18 days to hand craft The Tree of Life Mosaic which has been unveiled in the main entrance at University Hospital of North Durham for visitors, patients and staff to enjoy.
Chair of the City of Durham Parish Council’s Environment Committee Coun. Carole Lattin (pictured) said: “The Parish Council is delighted to be donating this magnificent tree of life mosaic to the University Hospital of North Durham as a very small thank you to its amazing staff who worked, sacrificed and saved soo many lives during the pandemic. The tree of life offers a message of hope to everyone, and I hope that staff and patients appreciate this as they attend the hospital”.
She added: “We were delighted to commission the services of talented local artist Susan Warlock who produced this mosaic for us. Her breath-taking work can be seen in Wharton Park as well as the hospital. We thank her enormously for producing something so beautiful”
Speaking about the generous donation, Trust Chairman, Professor Paul Keane OBE said: “This is an amazing piece of work by Susan that we are so grateful to accept from her and the City of Durham Parish Council. The COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly difficult for our Trust colleagues who have been on the front of it, our patients and visitors to our hospitals. This beautiful tree of life mosaic signifies hope and reflection and certainly brightens up the entrance to the hospital – thank you.”
Susan created the mosaic to feature a tree of life to symbolise a message of hope and to be life affirming. She has two sisters who work for the NHS and her daughter is a consultant in Australia and was thrilled to be commissioned to produce this labour of love as a thank you to the NHS.
Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Medical Director Jeremy Cundall added: “We are hugely grateful to the City of Durham Parish Council and talented artist Susan Warlock for this wonderful piece of artwork which is such a generous donation. Colleagues have been sharing positive feedback since it was installed at the entrance to University Hospital of North Durham which can be enjoyed by all who pass through our doors.”
The mosaic was officially unveiled by Trust Chairman, Professor Paul Keane OBE, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Medical Director Jeremy Cundall, Executive Director of Nursing Noel Scanlon, artist Susan Warlock and representatives from City of Durham Parish Council on Friday 21 October 2022.
Susan Warlock said: “When I was commissioned by the City of Durham Parish Council to create this artwork, I wanted it to be something that would be life affirming and positive and something which would lift the spirits of people who see it as they enter the hospital, I hope it is also seen as a memorial for all those who have lost their lives to covid. “