Renowned illustrator Sir Quentin Blake has created three rainbow mug designs for a charity supporting NHS workers set up through Gift by North London couple Beverley and Howard Calvert.

The charity, NHS-OS, has already facilitated donations of more than 36,000 food and beauty products to frontline workers across London. The Calverts hope the proceeds from the mugs will help NHS Charities Together, which NHS-OS supports, reach its £100 million fundraising goal.

Mr Calvert, 58, told the JC that 250 of the first batch of 5,000 mugs were sold in the first two hours.

The Calverts had started their project after hearing stories from the coronavirus frontline, as both their children and son in-law are doctors. “When your kids are in trouble, you feel you want to get involved and do something,” Mr Calvert said.

Having distributed items such as moisturiser and lip balm to NHS staff, the “entrepreneurial spirit got in play” and the couple turned their attention to raising money for a “wonderful” charity.

Sir Quentin, 88, who is currently shielding, also produced a self-portrait of himself with one of the mugs, which the Calverts hope to auction.

The artist said: “The rainbows seem to be doing a lot of travelling and I’m extremely pleased they’ve found their way onto the side of these mugs to benefit the NHS.”

Mrs Calvert felt the mugs were a perfect way “to show our friends and colleagues that we support the NHS by toasting them with a cup of tea or coffee each and every day”.

The mugs can be purchased through online fashion retailer Skinny Dip with all profits benefiting the charity. Mr Calvert said Skinny Dip, founded by three Immanuel College old boys, had been “instantaneous” in getting on board.

Two of the founders, James and Richard Gold, are his wife’s second cousins and fellow members of St John’s Wood United Synagogue.