Lindisfarne Scriptorium

Welcome to our website, please allow us to introduce ourselves,

Taking spiritual and visual inspiration from the work of the monks who created wonderful books like the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells, the calligraphy, illumination and illustration we offer you is a merging of old skills with new materials and new techniques inspired by ancient sacred works.

We aim to offer an artform which draws the viewer into an experience of prayer, meditation and blessing. Our inspiration is also drawn from the rich Celtic spirituality of Northumbria; our Christian faith and the beautiful environment of Holy Island. We aim to follow the great Monastic Scriptorium tradition of producing pieces of artwork that give glory to God and help His people to worship.

We are Lindisfarne Scriptorium, a small business based on a small Island off the coast of Northumbria roughly half-way between Newcastle and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne was key to the Christian faith being spread throughout the North of England in the 7th century A.D. and was the location of a Celtic and then later Benedictine monastic community.

Taking spiritual and visual inspiration from the work of the monks who created wonderful books like the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells, the calligraphy, illumination and illustration we offer you is a merging of old skills with new materials and new techniques inspired by ancient sacred works.

We aim to offer an artform which draws the viewer into an experience of prayer, meditation and blessing. Our inspiration is also drawn from the rich Celtic spirituality of Northumbria; our Christian faith and the beautiful environment of Holy Island. We aim to follow the great Monastic Scriptorium tradition of producing pieces of artwork that give glory to God and help His people to worship.

Our shop on Holy Island is open mainly during the season (Easter to end of October, Monday to Saturday, tides and staff availability permitting), however out of season and at other times we are usually able to open by appointment so please ring or email or just knock the door, we will be glad to see you! (although if it's before 10.30am or after 5pm or on a Sunday we may not be quite so cheery).

Lindisfarne Scriptorium,
Farne House, Marygate,
Holy Island of Lindisfarne,
Berwick upon Tweed. TD15 2SJ.
Tel. (+44)(0) 1289 389269
email:mary'at'lindisfarne-scriptorium.co.uk

Mary Fleeson - Artist

Mary Fleeson (maiden name Prior) was born in 1969 and grew up in a small market town in Shropshire, she has lived on Holy Island since 1997.

Mary Fleeson, working at the Lambeth Conference 2008

Mary studied Foundation Art at Stafford College, specialising in textiles, and then gained an honours degree in Three-Dimensional Design from the University of Central England in Birmingham in 1992.

About her work Mary thinks that her style originates from doodling in lessons at school, (not something she recommends as a way of succeeding in exams!) combined with opportunities during her education to experiment with many different types of media and techniques.

Together with her Christian faith, living on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and being surrounded by it's natural beauty and visible history, is the greatest inspiration for Mary's work; a feeling of being part of a rich cycle of life which began in pre-history and encompasses extremes of peace and violence, poverty and prosperity. She also studies early manuscripts and ancient calligraphy from around the world to gain an insight into how calligraphy and illumination have enhanced works, both religious and secular, throughout the ages.

Music is also a wonderful inspiration for her art, particularly the work of David Fitzgerald, (co-founder of the band 'Iona') and Jeff Johnson, (an American Christian with a Celtic heart). Poetry and prose also play their part, both the experiece of writing and reading it, C.S. Lewis, Stephen Lawhead and Stephen Baxter are favourites.

Find out more about Mary's artwork in our gallery

About Us

Lindisfarne Scriptorium

Mary Fleeson - Artist