Dungannon: Cost of living exhibition puts locals in frame

The youngest person featured as part of the paintings, is three-year-old Hatty from Moneymore.

On her second birthday, she woke up with what her parents thought at the time was just a cold.

After things didn’t improve and several tests and appointments later, Hatty was diagnosed with childhood leukaemia.

Her mother Victoria Smyth said it’s been a difficult journey.

“Life has been very different since Hatty’s diagnosis, and even though she has been through a lot, she is full life of life and full of craic.

“There’s a lot of treatment and appointments, but we’ve just been so proud of how far she has come, and how she has dealt with it.”

Smyth said being asked to be part of the exhibition came as a welcome surprise.

“To be honest we were honoured, and Hatty was really excited to be painted, and I just loved the theme of getting the stories behind the paintings.

“The term ‘cost of living’ can be interpreted in different ways, and the reality is people are struggling with lots of things behind closed doors, and I think Jade has really brought them to life.”