New portrait of Dame Vera Lynn unveiled to mark 75th anniversary of VE Day

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Ellena Cruse7 May 2020

A new portrait of Dame Vera Lynn has been unveiled ahead of the 75th anniversary of VE Day

Artist Dan Llywelyn Hall created the piece using video recordings and photographs of the 103-year-old, taken at home by her family in lockdown.

The oil on canvas painting, entitled The Enduring Sweetheart, has been commissioned to raise funds for the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity.

Know at the original Forces’ Sweetheart, the singer gave British troops uplifting performances during the Second World War.

Her famous song We’ll Meet Again was re-released as a duet with Katherine Jenkins to raise funds for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic. The nation is also being encouraged to sing the anthem just after 9pm on Friday.

Artist Dan Llywelyn Hall painted the picture from photographs
PA

Mr Llywelyn Hall, from Cardiff, said: “Dame Vera’s music has epitomised the human spirit in times of strife and is still at work as the nation’s morale-boosting sweetheart.

“She communicates longing of the soul in times of estrangement and is our herald of optimism during dark times of our nation.”

The portrait has been placed for auction on eBay to raise funds for the charity, with people also able to buy limited edition prints.

Dame Vera Lynn with a cardboard cut out of her younger self
PA

Dame Vera established the cause in 2001 and it has since helped more than 600 families from across the south east of England who have children with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments.

Like many charities, its ability to raise funds has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Pilar Cloud, executive manager of the charity, paid tribute to Dame Vera as an example of “positivity and ingenuity”.

Katherine Jenkins (left) and Dame Vera Lynn who recorded a duet of We'll Meet Again for charity
PA

“Rather than focusing on all the things that we cannot do now, the team and I at the charity are trying to adapt to ensure that we can carry on providing support to our families so that their children do not suffer during this lockdown period,” she said.

“Their needs have not changed, but our service and certainly our ability to fundraise for it, has been profoundly impacted.

“We are in the midst of a funding crisis and are so incredibly grateful to Dan Llywelyn Hall for choosing to support us with the profits from the sale of his beautiful portrait and the prints of this charity’s founder, Dame Vera Lynn.”

Her duet partner, Jenkins, said it was wonderful to see the national treasure honoured in a painting.

She added: "Dame Vera is a true icon, beloved by many and an inspiration to me personally. Her songs provided a soundtrack of comfort to the nation and she continues to boost morale today.

“It’s wonderful to see her honoured in this beautiful portrait and I hope it raises lots of much-needed funds for her charity.”

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