'Scriptorium' is the Latin name for the place within a monastery where monks copied out sections of the Bible and liturgies to produce books for use by the monastery and Churches. The monks would embellish them with intricate patterns and images to illustrate the words to an illiterate congregation and as a form of meditative worship for the creator and the viewer. We are based on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne where there was a monastery whose scribes are attributed to have created the Lindisfarne Gospels, the works I produce follow the same aim as the monks of past, to further God's Kingdom by using the skills I have to honour Him.
What inspires you to create your work?
My work comes from many sources, some are inspired by dreams, some from a lot of prayer and meditation, some in a flash, some from conversations and some from reading or listening to music. I often write the prayers and poems first and the inspiration for those come in the same way as for the visual aspects of my work. Like most artists I find inspiration everywhere, there is always something to look at in a new way or words of a prayer or poem which I want to share. The Bible is my root inspiration and I aim to only produce work which either illuminates aspects of the Bible or complements its teaching.
A lot of art, including Christian art is expensive, why is your ethos to keep prices affordable?
We have always felt that if God was behind the artwork then it should be made available as widely as possible and overpricing our work would not do that. We recognise that the skills and commitment behind the work should be valued and endeavour to produce the prints at an affordable price. Sometimes I feel I am called to give prayers away and I will produce several thousand freebie mini cards which we distribute at exhibitions and through our shop.
How are the original pieces of artwork created?
An eclectic combination of watercolour paints, pencils, inks and gel pens on A4 (210x 297mm) acid free cartridge paper. Each A4 sized piece takes between 50 and 100 hours to complete, worked on over several weeks or months.
