YVONNE - Portrait of a Voice

'Meeting Yvonne and creating her lip portrait has been both a privilege and a deeply moving experience.

Before embarking on this project, I was unaware of the reality that over 80% of those with MND will experience changes to their speech, or even lose their voice entirely. As an artist whose work focuses primarily on the mouth - capturing expression through this singular feature - this struck me as profound. So much of our sense of identity and self-expression is tied to our voice, something which most of us unthinkingly take for granted.

Through this project and the creation of this artwork I sought to capture Yvonne’s unique expression, as she herself lives with MND. In the short time we spent together, her warmth, resilience, and joyful presence made a deep impression. By engaging with her and studying the nuances of emotion and gesture held within the mouth, I later drew on these impressions to create an artwork that I feel truly reflects, Yvonne. 

Beyond the portrait itself, I hope the project and artwork also carry a broader significance, highlighting that while MND may eventually take away someone’s physical voice, their expression of character, individuality, and humanity, will always remain.' Sara Pope

The journey of creating this artwork has been documented in a short film by award winning documentary makers, Witness. This film, Portrait of a Voice, will be entered into the Cannes Lions Awards in April 2025 and premiered on 28th February at a charity auction for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The final portrait was auctioned at the event, raising  £15,500  for the Foundation. 

With thanks to Yvonne Johnson, Rolls Royce, Witness, VML and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.