Artwork Description:

Title: Medieval Window

On the south wall of St. Mary’s Bridge Chapel in Derby are a set of medieval style stained glass windows.  This window includes coloured glass and a mix of geometric and nature inspired graphic designs which are created by the “Grisaille” method.  A special paint is applied to clear glass which is then fired to fix the image.

The chapel dates from the 13th century and is one of only six that survive in England.  The date of this window is uncertain but probably dates from a restoration in 1930.  It is interesting that St. Bernard, a leader in the Cistercian foundation, issued a decree in the mid 12th century to forbid the use of colour, figures and images in painted windows, this led to geometrical and nature inspired grisaille patterns as seen in this window to become popular.

Whatever the history I was inspired by the sunlight lighting up this beautiful window to create an ink and watercolour painting.

Artist Bio:

Working quickly with a fountain pen, waterproof ink and watercolour, Tom captures views of cafes, city streets and rural views in an urban sketch style.  Some of these are worked into larger pictures back in the studio using pen and wash or oil.  Sometimes an image demands to be painted and battles a path via sketches and photographs to be released from just an idea to become a finished piece of work.

Tom has always been fascinated by our impact on the landscape and started sketching the urban environment of cafes, railway stations and airports while travelling for work.  Now Tom can often be found sketching and painting in and around Derby and enjoys chatting to onlookers about art techniques, the history of local buildings or where to find the best coffee and cake.