calligrapy

The Cauldron of Rebirth Contemporary Illumination of text taken from The Mabinogion. The passage itself is from 'Branwen Daughter of Lir' and is written in, what could be termed 'Old Welsh'. The script tells of the destruction of the cauldron of rebirth by the hero Efnisien during a battle between the men of Britain led by the giant king Bendigeidfran and the men of Ireland. With the Irish using the cauldron to bring back to life their dead, Efnisien crept amongst them and laying down he was cast into the cauldron as if he were Irish. Stretching himself he burst the cauldron destroying any chance for rebirth for his own fallen comrades. Realizing what he'd done his heart burst also.

The illumination is in ink and water colour and measures 21 x 29.5 cm

The Children of Lir Contemporary Illumination of text taken from Celtic mythology which tells of a time when the magical tribes of the goddess Danaan ruled the Underworld. Four beautiful children were born to a chieftain, Lir. They were much loved by their people but this caused envy in their stepmother's heart. In a jealous rage she turned them into swans, then was consumed by grief at what she had done. As recompense she gave them the gift of sweet song and human speech. to give them hope she told them of a time when the curse would be lifted. For 900 years the children lived in exile, banished by the spell to suffer in the cold hostile places of the Northern Seas. Finally the day came and the spell was broken and as they had hoped, they began to change shape. In the casting of that jealous spell however beauty and immortality had been taken away. They became four ancient and wizened people, linking arms they lay on the ground and died. Ever since when the singing of a swan is heared it marks not just the death of the swans partner but the last day of another of Lir's children.

The illumination is in ink and water colour and measures 41 x 29.5 cm

And Death Shall Have No Dominion Contemporary Illumination of text inspired by the work of Dylan Thomas. It depicts death as not quite the all conquering force we perceive it to be. The main element shows death as a gateway, its human victim, an heroic form in the traditional Celtic sense, biding his time, waiting to strike back.

The illumination is in ink and water colour and measures 41.5 x 29.5 cm

Other illuminated pieces available but not presently displayed are: 'Rage Rage' further work inspired by Dylan Thomas and 'The Children Of Rebecca' an illuminated text taken from a proclamation which appeared in 'The Welshman' between 1834 and 1843. This warned of the bloody revolution which preceded The Chartist movement. A rebellion of the farming community which found its flashpoint in the erection of toll gates used to levy funds for the trust roads. Both illuminations are in ink and water colour and measures 21 x 29.5 cm