ISRRT_COVID-19_book

Despite my shortcomings in both physics and the regurgitation of dry facts, I qualified in 1983
and enjoyed a fruitful career as a Diagnostic Radiographer working in the UK and Saudi Arabia,
eventually specialising in CT and MRI. In 1999 I went on to become a radiography lecturer and
researcher at the University of Salford in the UK. I presented all over the world and published
widely. I’ve also enjoyed working on collaborative projects with the UK Society of
Radiographers receiving the Radiographer of the Year prize (regional and national) on two
occasions. This year I was thrilled to be awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the College of
Radiographers. I don’t say this to brag but to point out that success has to start with the right
mindset regardless of knowledge and skills.
Then in 2018 I retired and it wasn’t too long before my art brushes started calling. My initial
steps were tentative, the muscle memory was weak and I wondered whether I would ever
regain my childhood passion. But in March 2020 lockdown happened in the UK.
Radiographers were about to experience one of the worst times in their working career. I felt
extremely guilty, not only at the relief of knowing I was not working on the frontline at this
terrible time but that the pandemic had given me the opportunity to hide myself away in my
studio and do what I loved most – paint. I am mindful of being insensitive here but, on a
personal and selfish level, lockdown was a happy time for me.
I painted and drew almost every day, scouring the internet for help, advice and inspiration.
There were so many free resources available that it was overwhelming knowing where to
start. Having worked in what is now a much-commercialised Higher Education culture, I was
amazed at the generosity of the online art community and those who were happy to share
their knowledge, skills, experience and wisdom for free. I think the lockdown and pandemic
fuelled this thirst for online sharing; another positive to come out of the chaos.
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