Neighbours

In 2020-2021, confinement became the way of life which brought communities together. In the UK, neighbours began organising socially distanced cocktail hours in their front gardens and relied on each other for information and sometimes groceries. I missed most of it as we were in the midst of moving to Lisbon.

On arrival in Lisbon I found a similar neighbourly atmosphere. Our new neighbours welcomed us with open smiles and even small gifts. In an area with a large population of elderly people, an understanding of the need for companionship and care seems to be paramount.

As such, this series is the beginning of an ongoing collection of little stories about my neighbours with whom I have forged new relationships, and through them, a feeling of home.

I have made these paintings available as prints to reminds of how important our neighbours can be in times of difficulty!