'Walking on Water'
This piece is one of the most popular artworks I've created, and my guess is it's because we all in some way resonate with the feeling of being helpless in stormy seas, and needing to remind ourselves to look up and fix our eyes on Jesus.
In a way, this drawing is the epitome of what I hope from every piece of art created, that it serves as a visual reminder to focus on Jesus, to accept that there are waves, that there are situations in life clawing for our attention and stealing our peace, but if we would just take a breath, slow our minds and re-focus, like Peter, we too can rise above the waves and learn to walk on water.
Matthew 14:25-27
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
'The Valley'
Inspired by Psalm 23, this imposing rock formation serves as an illustration of how I imagine walking through a valley to feel like. The size of the figures only emphasises the feeling of the valley closing in around you, and yet, there's a second figure walking with a comforting arm around the first.
This piece is a reminder that we're never alone through those challenging seasons of life, those Psalm 23 valleys look different to each person, but we have a shepherd who never leaves us, and leads us through to greener pastures.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
'Samaritan Woman'
One of the most powerful stories of Jesus restoring dignity to someone searching for value and love in all the wrong places deserves visualising.
The Samaritan Woman is a story that has personally shown me the heart of Jesus towards the lost and lonely, and allowed healing to flow in my own heart.
This piece is in a series of 2 pieces, the second being 'Woman at the Well', allowing us to see the same story from two different perspectives.
From the woman's perspective, I can only imagine her heart dropping at seeing a man where she hoped to be alone. I can imagine her straightening up and putting on her battle armour, ready to protect herself from cruelty.
Little does she know, he's simply waiting to love her.
John 4:13-15
"Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
'Prodigal Son'
Taking this beautiful story out of a middle Eastern context and placing it into woodland you'd more commonly find in the UK is a little jarring to some. I drew this piece to take our minds out of the context in which we commonly imagine it to take place, and bring it closer to home.
Prodigal sons are found all over the world, and wherever there is a Prodigal Son returning home with his head hanging low, there is a loving Father running towards him with open arms.
Whether in an ancient middle eastern town or a forest nestled in the UK countryside, this parable isn't restricted to one time and place, but its truth invades every culture, location and time.
Luke 15:20
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
'Good Father'
Becoming a mother this year has given me the incredible understanding of what unconditional love for your own child really feels like. Although before becoming a parent, I could try to imagine what it would be like to genuinely know you would put your life before another, I now know it in my bones.
Seeing my son's little hand grabbing onto his Dad's finger one day made me think about how God asks us to be like little children, trusting as a child does that their father has their best interests at heart, that their hand is near to hold them steady, to provide comfort, and to show them the way.
I felt this picture of a baby holding onto his Dad summed up that beautiful ask of God, to see Him as a 'Good Father', not a tyrant, nor a far away entity, but an ever present, loving and steady Father who would give his life for us.
1 John 3:1
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
