By Eleanor Wilson
It’s fair to say Australia’s frontline workers have faced the full force of the Covid pandemic.
Now, an Upper Beaconsfield man has taken his appreciation for the workforce to the revered Archibald Prize – submitting an oil portrait of a Berwick paramedic to honour the dedication of ambos across the country.
Peter McLean, who only started painting as a hobby seven years ago, said it was “an easy decision” to choose Ambulance Victoria team manager Nicky Blyth for his entry.
“I know Nicky through our children’s school. She is very humble and the work she does is very special, so it was a very easy decision for me,” Mr McLean said.
Ms Blyth, who has worked as a paramedic for 20 years, said she was taken aback when Mr McLean approached her with the idea to sit for the portrait.
“I actually thought you had to be famous to be painted for the Archibald Prize,” she laughed.
“To have my portrait in such a prestigious competition is an honour, not just for me, but for all my colleagues on the frontline.”
“Most paramedics are just normal everyday people in the community, we don’t really expect recognition for what we do every day, so this is really a first for me.”
The Archibald Prize is Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize, awarded by trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW for “the best portrait, preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, Science or Politics.”
Mr McLean said it took him more than 20 hours to complete the oil piece.
“I am very critical of my own work and I wanted it to be just right,” he said.
The father-of-three said he felt it was important paramedics received recognition for their work.
“They should be acknowledged for their hard work, they did a great job before Covid, let alone during it, so we need to celebrate that,” he said.
Ms Blyth said the painting, which depicts her in an Ambulance Victoria uniform holding a blue surgical face mask, was reflective of her lived experience over the last few years.
“I think the painting is beautiful. It’s very representative of the last two years putting on our uniforms to go on the frontline,” she said.
Despite their respective achievements, the pair have humble expectations when it comes to the judging of the Archibald Prize.
“It was just a bucket list thing for me, I’ve always wanted to enter the Archibald Prize, but I don’t expect to win it,” Mr McLean said.
He said he plans to gift the painting to Ms Blyth after the Prize winner is announced on Friday 13 May.
