Details Written by Dulwich Reporter (@InDulwich) Dulwich Reporter (@InDulwich) Published: 26 April 2020 26 April 2020 Hits: 1100 1100

The global pandemic is giving rise to an emergency in mental health as vulnerable people in society are experiencing incredible pressures. Although the current focus is on treating people critically ill with the COVID-19 virus, the new wave of effort is going to have to be directed at those suffering from impacts brought about by the virus.

Tanya Baxter from Tanya Baxter Contemporary art dealers in central London said:

The mental health impact surrounding COVID-19 is already growing into a national crisis. Whether it is single parents struggling to home-school whilst paying the bills, business owners facing bankruptcy, or family members suffering the loss of loved ones in isolation, this crisis will be played out in a myriad of ways. We developed the Healing Art campaign to be able to direct funds to the Maudlsey Charity's campaign to raise money for the NHS mental health crisis. We are particularly pleased to be working with contemporary artist Pip Todd Warmoth who has agreed a limited run of lithograph prints of his beautifully elegant portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The prins are strictly limited to 100 and are hand-finished by Pip.

Charities sare also suffering by a huge amount of fundraising events such as the 40th London Marathon that would have taken place today. The cost to charities is running into millions of pounds and efforts like the Healing Art Appeal are trying to make up for some of those losses.Tanya Baxter Contemporary is reducing the cost of the print by 50% and asking the buyer to donate the remaining 50% to the Maudsley Charity NHS appeal. The portrait will be framed and shipped once the charity has received the funds.

The art industry has been impacted by the cancellations of art fairs and exhibitions that are a key source of sale revenue for dealers. This has meant effort has pivoted to online where galleries are reaching out to collectors to help sustain both their business, the artists and others dependent on normal business practices.

The question remains how long it will take to return to a safe environment for doing business and also how much of the old normal will reemerge after the lockdown. Could virtual life offer more positives than negatives once we have adapted fully and recovered from the impacts of COVID-19. Time will tell.

To find out more about acquiring one of the 100 portraits available please click here.