Mary Seacole painting honouring the Crimean War nurse unveiled at Guy’s Hospital

A new painting honouring the Crimean War nurse Mary Seacole has been unveiled at Guy’s Hospital.

Artist Richard Wilson spent 600 hours over three months creating the 1.4-metre by 2.20-metre canvas, which depicts Mary in 1857 at her home in Soho Square in London.

Richard was commissioned by City & Docklands developers to provide a portrait of the Jamaican-born nurse as part of a wider regeneration scheme at Mary Seacole Memorial Park, just a stone’s throw away from Marys’ grave in north west London.

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation is working with City & Docklands on the project.

Rather than let the artwork remain in storage, the painting is on loan to Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust until at least the end of 2022, and will eventually reside in its permanent home at the Mitre Yard development.

Members of staff from Guy’s Hospital were joined by the Mary Seacole Trust and City & Docklands to celebrate the new painting on what would have been Mary’s 216th birthday – the same day Jamaica declared November 23 as Mary Seacole Day.