A Word from the Artist

Introducing Ewan Craig, the Abbey's new in-house illustrator

This is a guest post, written by our new in-house artist, Ewan Craig. You can see more of Ewan’s work on his own website.

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I am really delighted to be working with Paul for this next step in the Abbey of Misrule. Paul has kindly given me the chance to introduce myself to you all here, and to discuss some of my work. 

Like Paul, I found myself four or so years back a wee bit shocked that I was slowly becoming Christian. Whilst that was all going on, I was also training in carving and ceramics. I finished my training in Historic Carving two years ago, and in March this year I launched my own full-time practice.

I have two main disciplines to my studio practice: carving and ceramics. My ceramics focus on beauty for the home. The home ought to be shaped by beauty. There is something very elemental and ancient about ceramics, which create a particular kind of aesthetic joy. They can portray subtle forms whilst also being functional:

My most recent carving work, meanwhile, is springing from a desire to create iconographic work inspired by the vast wealth of Christian iconography. Two recent carvings I finished earlier this year, for example, were a response to Andrei Rublev's works The Trinity and Christ as Saviour. Rublev's work, particularly the Trinity has entranced many, myself included, and it has shaped my Christianity so far. Something that beautiful, I think, can't be made by Man alone. 

This work for Paul came about as I was reading his words on the Irish saint Colman Mac Duagh. I was incredibly drawn to the imagery of this saint, especially the little mouse biting his ear to keep him alert. I responded to this by making a woodblock print. Upon completing it, I thought Paul may like to see it - and thankfully it has led to some very exciting work for the Abbey of Misrule. I will be illustrating each of Paul’s forthcoming pieces on the wild saints with similar woodblock prints, each of them created especially for the story.

St Colman Mac Duagh