Sí Bhéag Sí Mhór

Patrick’s Perfect Party

Polkas

We Three Kings

Sussex Carol

The painting, above is called:
‘Home’ (after Sofiia Savrasova).

Sofiia Savrasova (aged 6) lives with her parents, brother and sister in the Edinburgh area. They come from Bakhmut and Kharkiv, Ukraine and I have spent wonderful moments this past year with this amazing, utterly loving and courteous family since they moved here, into my friend’s house.
Inspirational in their work ethic along with being an active part of the local community, they inspire me every day with their humility and love.

We are all only a whisper away from being refugees ourselves and it takes my own breath away to see how positive these dear folk are in creating a new life when their past has been wrecked and stolen from them.

I cannot detect a trace of bitterness to a world that has failed them – and it brings me tears and also hope

‘Home’ by Karen Tweed 2024

This painting was my response to the portrait of me by Sofiia. I think it captures me perfectly and when I spoke to her Mum about whether they missed home, she replied, ‘We have no home, it’s flattened. Edinburgh is home now.’

It moved me so deeply I decided to do this picture and around the edges are quotes from inspirational folk.

Music: ‘Blackbird’ by Kieran Munnelly
Video by Rosemary Wrigley.
Edited by Richard Pitkin.