Unpaid carers provide care worth a staggering £184 billion every year, yet many feel invisible and undervalued, with over half (55%) wanting more recognition from the public.

And to highlight the incredible yet often overlooked contributions carers make to society, a powerfully unfiltered depiction of unpaid carers in the UK has now been unveiled.

Created by critically acclaimed artist Colin Davidson, known for his portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II, former US President Bill Clinton, and musician Ed Sheeran, Specsavers Home Visits and Carers UK's ‘The Most Valuable Portrait’ has been assigned a symbolic value of £184 billion by Roseberys, a leading London fine art auction house. 

This valuation is equivalent to the estimated economic value of support provided by unpaid carers in the UK and comparable to the cost of a second NHS, underscoring the immense value of the care that UK carers provide to a family member or friend who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, or who needs extra help as they grow older.

While the striking portrait features the face of Jaycee La Bouche, who cares for her mother, it also represents the myriad of British carers and their experiences.  

In developing the portrait, Colin Davidson listened to the stories and experiences of numerous carers, ensuring their voices were captured in his work. “It was an honour to create ‘The Most Valuable Portrait’. This artwork is not just about one person; it represents all the unpaid carers who deserve to be seen and valued. For me, it was a special commission to capture these unsung heroes who contribute as much to society as the celebrated public figures I typically paint”, Davidson said. 

The artwork aims to raise awareness and promote public recognition of the love, selfless hard work, and dedication of unpaid carers across the UK. 

This is seen by Specsavers Home Visits colleagues each and every day, as they deliver eye care and hearing services to those who cannot leave their home unaccompanied. 

A Specsavers Home Visits director, Chris Smith, explains: “Our Home Visits colleagues are in people’s homes every day seeing first-hand the incredible support carers give to their loved ones. We recognise that caring for someone with a physical or mental illness often means making extra arrangements to meet their health needs. It’s so important unpaid carers and their loved ones get the support and also the recognition they deserve.”  

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, comments: “Without unpaid carers, our health and social care system would collapse. Carers UK is excited to be part of ‘The Most Valuable Portrait’, working with Specsavers Home Visits to raise awareness and put carers’ stories in the spotlight. We want to see greater acknowledgment for the true value of unpaid care, a lifeline for many that often goes unrecognised.” 

Latest data suggests that around 1 in 10 people in England and Wales are unpaid carers, but the true figure is much higher, as many do not immediately recognise themselves as carers. In fact, over a third (36%) take more than three years to realise they have become a careriv meaning they may be missing out on vital support available to them.  

A staggering 82% of carers surveyed by Carers UK said the impact of caring on their physical and mental health would be a challenge over the coming year, with nearly 60% adding that being valued as a carer would improve their wellbeing.

The subject of the portrait, UK carer Jaycee La Bouche says: “It is such an honour to have had my story and experience as a carer immortalised in a portrait, which was unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery and now on public display at South Bank in London. Caring for my mother has always been a natural choice for me; and one I embrace wholeheartedly. Home services like Specsavers’ eye tests are invaluable in ensuring people like my mother who cannot leave their home without help, can still receive the care they need.” 

William Summerfield, Associate Director & Head of Modern British & 20th Century Art at Roseberys, who valued the artwork, comments, "This extraordinary symbolic valuation reflects the immense, yet often overlooked, worth of care in our society. It serves as a powerful tribute to the vital contributions of carers who so often remain hidden.”