Covid-19: Carlisle artist adds virus to sick bag collection

Artist Lydia Leith said her work helped keep lockdown anxiety at bay

An artist known for making sick bags themed around high profile events has created one for coronavirus lockdown.

Lydia Leith, from Carlisle, had previously printed royal wedding "Throne Up" bags and "Make America Regurgitate Again" versions for the 2016 US presidential election.

"I find making keeps lockdown anxiety at bay," she said.

"We need all the smiles we can at the moment, so it's a big yes to humour as a way through grim times for me."

"Throne Up" sick bags commemorated the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

As well as the sick bags, which are functional and for sale, Ms Leith has designed a collection of "non-event" posters after her usual commissions for galleries, community projects and festivals dried up during lockdown.

"Everything is cancelled, we can't hug our friends and family and it's just not as good as it once was," she said.

"It's about the 'new normal' and day-to-day life rather than the actual illness itself which, of course, can be awful for those individuals and their families."

Commissions for events posters have dried up