'Let anyone who can hear listen to what the Spirit is saying'
Rev. 2:7
Commission for St John's R.C. Church, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. Original composition designed to fill a gap adjacent to the very unusual church organ, hence emphasis on 'listening'. Inspiration for the figure was taken from 12th c. MSS illustrations from the Great Lambeth Bible and a Russian icon, 'Angel with Golden Hair'. The background of the icon is a stylised representation of the surrounding Breckland scenery and features the rare local bird, the Bittern.
Tempera on panel with mordant gilded background.
Private commission. Copy of 15th c. Russian (Novgorodian) image of the Archangel Gabriel from a seven-icon Deisis (altarpiece) in which all the saints and angels incline in supplication towards the central figure of Christ Enthroned.
Tempera on panel with polished yellow bole background and water-gilded halo.
Private commission. Detail of roundel from the 15th c. Russian Hodegetria with Saint Peter and Saint John the Baptist (see Theotokos gallery). Saint Michael holds the Sphere of the Universe.
Tempera on panel, water-gilded panel.
Private commission. Detail of left-hand Angel from Saint Andrei Rublev's Holy Trinity icon. This Angel possibly representing the Paraclete.
Tempera on panel, halo gilded with 'moongold'.
Commission for the Orthodox Church of St John the Wonderworker, Felixstowe, Suffolk, England. Original composition (designed as part of a set of 4 East Anglian saints). Saint Botolph (615 - 680 AD) became a monk at an early age and travelled extensively in N. France and England before founding a monastery at Iken (near Aldeburgh) Suffolk in 654 AD. Renowned for his prophecies, exorcisms, miracles and charitable works, Saint Botolph became a patron saint of travellers. A thatched church still stands on the site of his monastery at Iken overlooking the River Alde.
Tempera on panel, water-gilded halo, polished yellow bole background, drapery stylised in the more rounded, swirling forms of 12th c. English MS illumination.
For more information on Saint Botolph see Fr Andrew Phillip's article 'Holy Suffolk: Four Local Saints' at the link below.
'In the beginning was the Word...'
John1.1:6
Ordination commission. Design partially based on an 18th c. Russian model (Greek text at patron's request).
Tempera on linen-faced (pavoloka) oak panel, burnished water-gilded halo and matt mordant background gilding.
Private commission, original design. Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin, is shown bringing two sacrificial doves to the Temple in accordance with the Jewish rite of Purification following the birth of a child.
Tempera on panel. Water-gilded halo, mordant gilded background.
Private Confirmation commission. Copy of Russian icon from Novgorod (1294). Saint Nicholas (4th c.) Archbishop of Myra (S.Turkey), is blessed by the adjacent figures of Christ and the Theotokos. Widely venerated for centuries in Russia and Europe for his emulation of Christ's love and charity, Saint Nicholas is also the patron saint of children, seafarers and travellers. His relics are now venerated in Bari, S. Italy.
Tempera on panel. Silver punched and decorated halo, water-gilded background.
'I believe in one God, the Father Almighty.'
(text on scroll)
Private commission. Copy of a 16th c. Russian (Novgorodian) icon showing the 3rd century Greek Virgin Martyr, who was persecuted for her faith under Diocletian. Her unusual white veil references the Holy Cloth (Mandylion) and is read as a Redemption symbol. Saint Parasceva is venerated on Fridays, as her name in Greek means 'preparation' (as in Good Friday, the preparation day).
Tempera on rebated panel (kovcheg) Burnished water-gilded background.
'Do you love me? ... Feed my lambs.'
'Do you love me? ... Look after my sheep.'
'Do you love me? ... Feed my sheep.'
John 21:15-18
Private Ordination commission. Text in Greek on request of patron (see above for translation). Original composition based on fragment of icon of Saint Peter in the collection of the British Museum, London.
Tempera on oak panel, water-gilded halo and mordant gilded background, polished red bole border.
'I beheld the snares of the devil spread out upon the earth'
Private commission. Copy of 16th c. icon of Saint Anthony the Great by the Cretan painter, Michael Damaskinos. Saint Anthony (251 - 356) is regarded as the founder of monasticism and a 'desert father' who followed a solitary life of prayer and ascetic discipline and having overcome temptation, achieved a great degree of wisdom and understanding - as recorded by Saint Athanasius.
Tempera on panel, burnished water-gilded panel.
Private commission. Copy of Byzantine icon, c.1360. The Archangel Michael is venerated as the guardian of the church and the angel who leads the celestial armies into battle with the devil. The Archangel is shown holding the Sphere of the Universe which bears the cryptogram 'Christ the Righteous Judge'. He holds his angelic rod as a messenger of God and the elevated ribbon-ends of his head-dress signify his active duty in listening to God.
Tempera on panel, burnished water-gilded background.
'A heavenly life in word and deed'.
Commission for the Orthodox Church of St John the Wonderworker, Felixstowe, Suffolk, England. Original composition (designed as part of a set of 4 East Anglian saints). Saint Audrey (also known as Saint Etheldred) founded a double monastery on her dowried land at Ely in the Cambridgeshire Fens, c 673. Baptised and instructed by St Felix, Saint Audrey's chastity was not compromised by two arranged marriages and her piety became legendary. Miracles associated with her led to her shrine at Ely Cathedral becoming a major pilgrimage site in the middle ages.
Tempera on panel, water-gilded halo, polished yellow bole background, drapery stylised in the more rounded, swirling forms of 12th c. English MS illumination.
For more information on Saint Audrey see Fr Andrew Phillip's article 'Holy Suffolk: Four Local Saints' at the link below.
'Hail Martyr King, True to the Faith, Servant of heaven's glorious King'
Extract from feast day hymn.
Commission for the Orthodox Church of St John the Wonderworker, Felixstowe, Suffolk, England. Saint Edmund is shown holding a cross symbolising the faith he would not renounce and for which he was martyred by the Danes in 869 at Hoxne in Suffolk.
Original composition (designed as part of a set of 4 East Anglian saints).
Tempera on panel, water-gilded halo with polished yellow bole background, Drapery stylised in the more rounded, swirling forms of 12th c. English MS illumination.
For more information on Saint Edmund see Fr Andrew Phillip's article 'Holy Suffolk: Four Local Saints' at the link below.
'King Edmund, the Christian, prefers to hold his banner high in the court of the Eternal King'.
Saint Edmund's words as later recorded by Abbo of Fleury (985), chapter IX (the first written account of the martyrdom).
Private commission and also commissioned for the Orthodox Church of St John the Wonderworker, Felixstowe, Suffolk, England, amongst several other icons. Original design with scenes on the border depicting his martyrdom based on 12th c. illuminations from MS 736 folio (Pierpoint Morgan Library, New York). (See also matching icon of Our Lady of Walsingham in the Theotokos Gallery)
Tempera on panel, burnished water-gilded halo.
Commission for the Orthodox Church of St John the Wonderworker, Felixstowe, Suffolk, England. Saint Felix was French by birth but at the request of King Sigebert of East Anglia, he came to evangelise in his kingdom, probably landing at Felixstowe c. 630. His extensive missionary work took him all over East Anglia, founding schools, monasteries and baptising. His cathedral was at Dunwich.
Original composition (designed as part of a set of 4 East Anglian saints).
Tempera on panel, burnished water-gilded halo, polished yellow bole background. Drapery stylised in the more rounded, swirling forms of 12th c English MS illumination.
For more information on Saint Felix see Fr Andrew Phillip's article 'Holy Suffolk: Four Local Saints' at the link below.
An icon of true love
Private Collection. Original composition based on the prototype icon (destroyed by fire in December 2005) from the Church of Saint Mavra on Zakynthos. Saint Mavra was martyred in AD 286 during Diocletian's rule. She was crucified with Timothy, her husband of only twenty days and in sight of each other. Saint Mavra survived ten days on the cross, following mutilation and torture.
