Elvi Wood

On 23 May 2011 Sergeant Brett Wood, 2nd Commando Regiment, was killed by an improvised explosive device in Helmand province while on his third tour of Afghanistan. Wood was a member of the Special Operations Task Group. Since this tremendous loss, Elvi has become a voice for war widows and other family members. She works closely with serving members and ex-service organisations in the interests of veterans’ welfare.

Here Quilty has painted Elvi as if she were on a stage performing. This idea developed out of conversations during sittings in the studio; Elvi said that she felt thrust into the public eye the moment her husband was killed. She went from being a private wife to a public widow, a role with which she has never been completely comfortable.