Bestiarium Beatum is born from my love of religious art, and for the wonderful animals of the fields, woods, and waters around us.
Since the Middle Ages, Saints have been depicted with objects and symbols meant to convey their stories and virtues. I use the same visual language to illustrate threatened or at risk animals in the UK, to tell their tales and bting them some well-earned devotion.
Sancta Aranea
This seasonal addition to my Bestiarium is dedicated to the Great Fox Spider. A truly impressive beastie, that was assumed to be extinct in the UK for decades until one was discovered in 2020! Good news is rare when it comes to animal conservation, so we must celebrate it when we get some. These spiders are still not in the clear, however - they continue to be critically endangered.
Patron saint of weavers, runners, and leg injuries.
Sanctus Herinacius
Traditionally, Christian martyrs are depicted in blood-red robes, holding a palm branch, and the means of their demise. Think for example of St Paul holding a sword, or St Bartholomew holding his own skin!
I have honoured our long-suffering hedgehogs in the same way.
Patron Saint of: Drivers and Gardeners.
Sanctus Vespertilius
For decades, there has been only one Greater Mouse-Eared Bat in all the UK. A single male has been hiding out in a tunnel in Sussex, probably originating from a colony on the mainland.
I have imagined him as a hermit, dedicated to a life of solitary contemplation - symbolised by the traditional attributes of St Joseph: the white cord and the lilies.
Patron Saint of: Hermits, Thinkers, and Single People.
Larus Stella Maris
In spite of appearances, our gulls are not doing well. Largely due to over-fishing and pollution, herring gull numbers are plummeting - they are now red-listed for conservation.
Painted in the style of Byzantine icons of Maria Stella Maris - the Star of the Sea.
Patron Saint of: Surfers, Sailors, and all those who love the Sea.
Aper Dei
Long before the Cross of St George became the flag of England, the red cross on a white field was often used in depictions of the Agnus Dei - the Lamb of God. In this context, the flag is a symbol of Christ’s resurrection, and his victory over death.
I have drawn on this mediaeval symbol for my tribute to the boar, who are having a resurrection of their own - reconquering England after being hunted to extinction centuries ago.
I have also drawn on depictions of St John the Baptist, often shown with a plate holding his head, to show the threats the magnificent boar still faces.
Patron Saint of: Foresters, Ramblers, and Cooks.