by Lorraine Gibson.

It seems fitting that Unmasked, a stunning project paying homage to the work of NHS staff in the depth of the covid pandemic, should have been created during – and despite of – the restrictions it caused.

A local independent undertaking, Unmasked began in the dark days of March 2020, when the previously-unheard of disease literally stopped the world as we knew it, and was inspired by the fact that, to fight this invisible enemy, our healthcare workers had made themselves invisible, too, in a way.
We clapped for them every Thursday but we never saw their faces. At work, their identities were hidden behind masks and gowns and gloves.

At the heart of Unmasked is a series of striking portraits by photographer Andy Scaysbrook, which reveals and celebrates the faces of some of Dorset’s NHS front line workers.
Together with journalist Emma Pittard and graphic designer John Nesbitt, Andy shines a light on many of the men and women behind the masks.

Three previous Unmasked exhibitions won critical acclaim in both the local and national press, and this fourth show coincides with the forthcoming launch of a beautiful fundraising book, which will also serve as an historic document.
The book will bring pictures and stories together in one permanent record of those times, with profits going to Dorset NHS charities, and will be a tribute to all health-sector superheroes.

In addition, it will be held by The British Library to support its ‘NHS Voices of Covid-19’ archive, part of the NHS 70th Birthday celebrations.
The Dorset Museum exhibition is a sample of the work achieved by Andy and Emma during the lockdowns while respecting social-distancing rules and without having to travel too far from their homes.

The project grew quickly – from Andy photographing friends who are key workers to it being featured in The Times and The Sunday Times – and it was soon necessary to bring in John to prepare the work for exhibitions.

Andy, Emma and John originally met at the start of their careers 30 years ago while working for the Bournemouth Echo newspaper.
All three took on Unmasked without payment, while juggling other jobs and responsibilities.
Their first Unmasked show appeared on the walls of Dorset County Hospital in November 2020, with the help of Suzy Rushbrook, Arts in Hospital Manager at DCH, who then organised displays at Durlston Castle in Swanage and at Lighthouse in Poole.

Suzy said: “Arts in Hospital has been proud to work with Andy, Emma and John on this project and were delighted when they contacted us in the middle of the first lockdown.
“Art has an enormous impact on health and wellbeing and this is something people are becoming increasingly aware of, making collaborative projects like this invaluable.”
With its ‘we see you’ message, the project has proved to be an exercise in wellbeing and a morale booster for staff working all over the Dorset health sector; showing them that they are truly appreciated, their stories are being told and people are listening.