I am an Australian artist, based in Newcastle, whose work expresses my love for the natural world and my Christian faith.
I love exploring the Australian bush and national parks; and I love depicting them naturalistically in watercolour. I love studying the Scriptures and responding to them visually.
Combining these loves with skills in layout and theological exploration has filled a large part of the last two decades, and flowed out into the production of my three illuminated books, which I self-published on the advice of Eugene Peterson.
What am I seeking to do in my illustrated books?
I am inviting my neighbours, whatever their beliefs, to explore books of the Bible for themselves. To give them a gift so they may savour them as wonderful pieces of writing, as a fundamental part of our cultural heritage, and for nourishing faith in our good Lord.
The text of the English Standard Version of the Bible is laid out in a readable way that is sympathetic to the personal style of each Bible writer and lets the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original, as the ESV aims in its translation (2001: vii); and celebrates their artistry in the patterns of my text layout. It is accompanied by illustrations of the Australian bush, suggesting their individual voices and themes.
What am I seeking to achieve through their illustrations?
Primarily, their unashamed role is to invite readers into the text through the beauty of our natural surroundings. To connect an ancient, written text to a contemporary, Australian, visually-driven culture, with a national myth about our connection to our land.
They are designed to reflect the themes raised in the adjacent text. They are not retelling the story: they are not a visual adaptation or interpretation, like the movie of a book, through which I direct or channel readers to see the action as I do. Rather, I transplant the ancient writers’ images into Australian soil, opening readers to see possibilities of the text’s depths.
Some illustrations echo others, to visualise connections the author may have sounded between passages, characters or incidents. I use visual free space to allow room for reader reflection.
The Book of Psalms illuminated grew in my studio at home, encouraged by Andrew Shead, head of Old Testament at Moore Theological College, and many friends.
John illuminated developed under the caring oversight of Gerard Moore and Peter Pocock of Charles Sturt University/ Uniting Theological College Parramatta.
The Scrolls unfurled with the nurture of Natural History Illustration at Newcastle University and the caring supervision of Gregory Goswell of the Presbyterian Theological College Melbourne and Barry Webb of Moore Theological College, Sydney, followed by over 2 years looking for a publisher.
I had no ‘career’ before (or including) this, but rather a series of occupations from law clerk, writer, layout artist, cook, exhibiting artist, to full-time mum, and involvement in local churches and communities, and Christian camping, and exploring the Scriptures. Ross’ wife for 46 years, we rejoice in two sons in their thirties, and their gorgeous wives.
Contact fiona@fionapfennigwerth.info
