Painting. Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Centre, John Radcliffe Infirmary Oxford, by Keith Holmes, 1991-93. Oil on board; image 69x86.5cm in frame, 84x101.5x4cm. Full surgical team with open heart surgery using sophisticated technology in progress.

Keith Holmes was invited to observe medical work by two brothers in 1991. Firstly cardio-thoracic surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with Stephen Westaby, a friend and Head of the Cardiothoracic Unit, and then with David Westaby, consultant physician and gastroenterologist at Charing Cross Hospital.

Here he shows Stephen Westaby and team in theatre. The artist created a double-pyramid composition with the team to the left and the heart-lung machine to the right. Also note the speakers for the loud stereo system providing therapeutic music. On this day Jimi Hendrix was playing.

Holmes’s works appeared in a joint exhibition with surgeon/artist Sir Roy Calne held at the Science Museum in 1994, called 'Painters, Surgeons, Patients'. A number of paintings were purchased from the show, and Holmes was invited to become Artist in Residence at the Museum 1994-6. From this he produced a series of images of collection objects, staff and visitors, many of which are also in the collection.