Mari Hayman

Pitton Methodist Chapel, near Rhossili

Skaters

Mari Hayman is an experienced, well motivated artist and teacher with a studio in Swansea. She makes versatile use of a variety of media and processes producing individual and collaborative work on both a small and large scale. She draws from life and paints in all media with her subjects including landscapes, seascapes, people etc. In addition, she makes panels for churches and homes, stained glass windows, mosaics and also undertakes community work. She enjoys co-operating  with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds and has successfully completed community and educational projects in the U.K. and abroad.

Andrew Vessey

The Revd Canon Andrew Vessey is an artist-priest who, while believing it important that Christian art connects with wider society as well as church members, thinks the particular duty of the artist who is a Christian is to develop images and symbols that stretch the meaning of our inherited biblical visual vocabulary.
His own major oil or gouache paintings grow from within particular landscapes in which he has come to see and feel the presence of saints and angels, to the point of becoming a setting of a particular biblical story in a contemporary setting. These studio works are supported by poems, written to explore the same theme both before or after the painting takes place. Other pictures will directly record in ink or pastel the changing light, impact of seasonal differences and the weather, especially around the woods and fields and along the estuaries of northern Suffolk.

Andrew trained at the Chelsea College of Fine Art and Bishop Otter College of Education. His ordained and parish ministry was in Suffolk, Worcestershire and Swansea. He has exhibited at Bury St Edmonds (1968/70), Bath (1975/76), Salisbury (1983), Worcester (2003), and Swansea (2008/11).

Exhibition: Joy Rousell Stone

Joy Rousell Stone exhibited a selection of landscapes and animal paintings this week at St Nicholas Rawreth, one of two churches welcoming regular exhibitions by commission4mission artists. Judging by comments left, Joy's skillful technique and insightful eye were greatly appreciated by those viewing the exhibition.

From the Darkness and Colin Burns

From the Darkness ... light in contemporary art is a Brighton Festival Fringe exhibition (1 May – 23 May 2010) at Little St Peter's Church, Preston Park, Brighton.

The curator of the exhibition is Nathaniel Hepburn, from Mascalls Gallery in Paddock Wood, West Kent. ‘From the Darkness’ is one of a series of exhibitions from Brighton to Canterbury including works by major international artists including Graham Sutherland, Stanley Spencer, Marc Chagall and Maggi Hambling.

Works of all media which engage with light are to be exhibited in the beautiful setting of this 13th century church, including Illumined Way by Colin Burns.

Colin writes that journeying into the unknown, a sense of adventure and discovery, hinting that there may be something more beyond the physical world than we can see, are all themes that he explores in his work. He does this through the depiction of landscape, where there may be a path leading into the distance which symbolises the idea of journey or there may be light coming from an unseen source drawing the viewer in almost as if entering a hidden, unseen world.

Adam Boulter

The prologue to John: yet the world did not know him, Monoprint on paper 8"x10"

Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross, 11"x15", Oil

Adam Boulter writes:

"My work has two dominant tensions. The first is between the abstract and the figurative, where we work out if the world is as we see it and find out how we make the world seem to our selves. The second is between the exterior space where we encounter others and the world, and the interior space where we encounter ourselves. I have found that the tension and space created by these two sets of tensions forces me to notice God. Much of my work has revolved around landscape and religious themes. It is concerned with a sense of belonging and of the sacred in places as diverse as the inner-city and deserts, and in ancient stories, myths and sacred texts."

BA Theology: Cambridge
MA Drawing: Kingston
BA Fine Art: Bath
Foundation: Central St Martins

Adam has exhibited frequently in and around London.

Elizabeth Duncan Meyer

Saint Robert by Night, 2006, Oil on canvas

Maternity No. 5, 2005, Polished Oak

Elizabeth Duncan Meyer's work is influenced by abstract expressionism based on landscape and the human figure. She uses many prophetic forms in sculpture, wood and stone.

Elizabeth writes:

"I have always been interested in the spiritual in art, using biblical figures and dreams. I am now involved in a series of etchings based on music. I have exhibited in churches, given paintings (i.e. Servite Priory in Fulham), and made a wooden crucifix for a Benedictine Monastery. I would be very interested to do a commission for Stations of the Cross in ceramic sculpture. The Madonna and Child comes into a lot of my sculpture."

Having studied at the Central School of Art, she moved to Paris to learn print-making at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and at the studios of William Hayter and Henri Goetz. Although a colourist, with a natural tendency towards abstraction and simplification, her work remains subtle and at times mystical, interwoven with images which reflect her passions, as, for example, the spirituality she finds through exploring the deep human relationships of mother and child.

New Archdeacon of Harlow

Martin Webster (right) with Bishop John Gladwin and Chris Newlands following tonight's service

Commission For Mission member Revd. Canon Martin Webster was tonight collated and installed as Archdeacon of Harlow in a service held at Chelmsford Cathedral.

Martin has served in the Archdeaconry of Harlow for the last twenty three years, where he was most recently Team Rector of Waltham Abbey Team Ministry and an honorary Canon of the Cathedral.

The choir from Waltham Abbey conducted by their Director of Music, Stephen Bullamore, led the worship. Martin was collated and installed by Bishop John Gladwin in one of his last functions as Bishop of Chelmsford. Bishop David preached using salt and light as images to describe the ministry that he anticipates for Martin in his new role. Bishop David also spoke about the creativity that Martin will bring to the role, highlighting his love of landscape painting.

Colin Joseph Burns

Secret Forest I

Destiny

Colin Joseph Burns works mainly in acrylics and paints landscapes and other works with a spiritual/Christian element.

Colin writes:

"Journeying into the unknown, a sense of adventure and discovery, hinting that there may be something more beyond the physical world than we can see - these are the themes that I am exploring in my work. I do this mainly through the depiction of landscape, both observed and imaginary. There may be a path leading into the distance which symbolises the idea of journey or there may be light coming from an unseen source drawing the viewer in almost as if entering a hidden, unseen world.

I aim is to convey these ideas not only by the representation of the subject matter but also by the creation of an atmosphere. It is hoped that the work has a certain presence which encourages the viewer ‘into’ the painting as it were. There is a sense that something is going on beneath the surface, behind the scenes

I paint in both oils and acrylics. My acrylic painting method is influenced by the landscape watercolours of artists such as Turner and traditional Chinese painters. Using acrylics in a very fluid way, I build up transparent layers allowing the underlying images to show through. I often start out with an idea but I take advantage of the natural tendency of the paint to produce unpredictable and surprising results as if the paint itself itself is exploring and going on a journey."

Colin is also administrator for the Arts Centre Group, has been playing guitar for over 30 years and teaches guitar in London. Having started out studying classical guitar and later electric guitar full time at college, he embraces various styles and brings them together in his original acoustic guitar compositions.

Martin Webster

Martin Webster is interested in promoting Christian Art as a form of engaging with the gospel. He paints (oils and acrylics) particularly 'sacred spaces' usually forest/landscape views. He is the Archdeacon of Harlow.