An exhibition launching at PWSH in Cardiff this Monday (9 June 2025) will feature a new portrait of Terry Higgins, ahead of what would have been his 80th birthday on Tuesday. The piece, by artist Darren Varnam, forms part of Prosiect Rhuban Rhudd (The Red Ribbon Project), a multidisciplinary exhibition exploring experiences of HIV and queerness in Wales.
The exhibition traces the journey of HIV in Wales, from crisis to a hopeful future. Today, advances in medicine mean that people living with HIV who are on treatment can live normal, healthy lives and cannot pass it on to partners. This medical progress, combined with HIV testing and PrEP, means it is possible to end new HIV transmissions in Wales by 2030.
Terry Higgins was the first named person to die of an AIDS-related illness in the UK. Born in Haverfordwest in 1945, he died in 1982 at just 37 years old. In the wake of his death, his partner Rupert Whitaker OBE and close friend Martyn Butler OBE founded the Terrence Higgins Trust in his memory. Today, the charity supports people living with HIV to live well, including delivering peer support across Wales.
Varnam’s portrait captures Terry in uniform during his time serving in the Royal Navy. The word ‘Cymru’, hidden in the clouds behind him, reminds viewers of Terry’s Welsh roots, with figures in the background representing the activism his death inspired.
The project was funded by Tŷ Cerdd and Arts Council Wales, in response to the Welsh Government’s HIV Action Plan, launched in 2023.
Richard Angell OBE, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said:
'As we mark what would have been Terry’s 80th birthday, we are celebrating his extraordinary life and legacy. We are so touched by Darren Varnam’s portrait, which captures Terry’s proud Welsh identity and his time in the Royal Navy. I hope those who visit will come away knowing a little more about an incredible life lived.
'Every day, in Terry’s memory, we work tirelessly for a world with no new HIV transmissions and where HIV holds no one back. Together, for Terry and for everyone we lost, we can end new HIV cases in Wales and support everyone living with HIV to live well.'
Artist Darren Varnam said:
'As a gay man who lived through the AIDS crisis, I’m deeply humbled to be part of this HIV awareness project. Through my art, I’ve always sought to capture the essence of the human spirit. Now, I’m proud to lend my portraiture to a cause that continues to matter so much—shining a light on hope, resilience, and the history of lives touched by HIV.
'I felt it would be remiss of me to do an HIV awareness project in Wales and not mention such an iconic man and charity as Terrence Higgins and the Trust. It was the first in the UK to be set up in response to the epidemic, and they have worked tirelessly since. I have been very proud to be a part of the Red Ribbon Project, and I’m now equally proud to be able to honour Terrence Higgins on what would have been his 80th birthday.'
Gonçalo Fernandes, Project Director, said:
'I started reflecting on the subtle but persistent stigma I experienced, especially on dating apps, where I was often asked if I was ‘clean.’ Although I’m HIV negative, the question always made me uncomfortable. It brought back a memory from my early 20s in Portugal, when I had to fight to access PEP after a potential exposure. The hospital staff didn’t even know what I was talking about, and I felt ashamed, judged, and alone. That early experience, combined with the stigma I continued to see online, made me realise I wanted to respond creatively— with a multidisciplinary project that centres HIV awareness and challenges the narratives that shame people into silence.
'This project is also a form of activism. With the support of my partner—Ruan Martins—who brought his background in ballet and film into the process as Audiovisual Director and co-producer, and organisations like On Your Face Collective, especially Africa and Cerian, I was able to shape not just the artistic direction but the community engagement side of the work. The artists Darren and Niamh were also key in helping me build and sustain the project. I believe art must speak to the times we live in. Too many still feel they don’t have a voice. For me, this work is about giving space to those voices, breaking down stigma, and reminding others—through art—that awareness, dignity, and empathy are not optional.'
The exhibition premieres at PWSH, Hypha Studios, 111 Queen Street, Cardiff, at 18:30 on Monday 9 June. It remains open until Saturday 14 June.
Full details are available at the Arts Council of Wales.
