Contemporary Manuscript Illumination

Modern manuscript miniatures, borne out of my passion for this medieval art form in its glorious colours and microscopic precision. 
​I work by preference on natural unbleached calf vellum, a material too scarce and costly for me to indulge in much speculative work.  For the cost-conscious client I can substitute a high-sized watercolour paper, but real vellum is a uniquely beautiful surface: the proteins in the semi-translucent skin swell and bond with the tempered pigments to create a slightly raised, jewel-like surface. Combined with the high polish of raised gilding on lead gesso, the effect is of a brilliant enamel-inlay surface.which  just can't be shown in a photograph,

Please use my contact form​ to enquire about commissioning an illuminated piece,

Quotations and Prayers

St Catherine of Siena (in German), 10 x 15 cm 2022

That Time of Year, Shakespeare Sonnet 73 , 31 x 30 cm, 2019

Lord's Prayer, style of the Gladzor Gospels canon table, c 1300, 20 x 25 cm. Commission 2016

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Two illuminated quotations

Happy for the Moment (Omar Kayyam) 11 x 16 cm, Illumination on paper

Eternity (Sir Francis Bacon) , 11 x 16 cm, illumination on paper. Commission 2018

Night in the Garden
Celebrating the secret world of our own back gardens after dark. Illuminated miniatures with raised gilding on calf vellum, approx 9 x 9 cm. A homage to Jean Pucelle, the great Parisian manuscript artist, early 1300s. Pieces still available in the series are on my  'Buy' page here.

Night Garden Series: framing

Thief for all seasons, 11 x 20 cm, 2019, on parchment paper

Locket miniature: pet portrait and verso initial T 2018, 3 x 3 cm

Garrulous Jay: illumination on 600gsm paper , 2017

Illuminated Initials
Miniatures commissioned as birthday and wedding anniversary gifts.

Isabella & her four cats 2023, 13 x 18 cm

Framing

Lorenz with Fox and Crow 2019, 8 x 8 cm

Valentina and pet rabbit, 8 x 8 cm 2019

"David, a man after mine own heart" illuminated Bible quotation, 10 x 10 cm, 2018

Initial E with ladybird, 6 x 6 cm, 2018

Golden Wedding Anniversary 2015: entwined Js with roses and goldfinches on vellum 9 x 10 cm

Framing

Two Lake District landscape miniatures on vellum, illuminated quotations
Commissioned as housewarming gift and 50th birthday gift, 10 x 6 cm

Westron Wynde and Windermerel, illumination for Donna 2019, 10 x 6 cm

Lake District Hymn for Claire, 2017, 10 x 6 cm

Apocalypse Art Prize Competition USA 2015 - Winner
A contest with valuable prizes founded to encourage original work in the field of traditional arts. With this entry I proudly became an "Awarded Artist". Read more here.

Illuminated Dragons, medieval reproductions

These dragons on paper and vellum are scaled up and reproduced from medieval manuscripts of various periods. I use them as teaching aids on my illumination courses, and for stationery.

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