Lettering and calligraphy

Personal and artistic works

Type design stretches my brain but calligraphy feeds my soul. If given the gift of some free hours I usually end up planning or creating something that involves hand lettering or pen (or brush) work. I often have a project or two slowly moving forward. Most of my larger works have been prepared as gifts for family members or dear friends.

Here are a few articles highlighting individual projects, followed by a gallery of images from other works.

Phos

Epiphany Hymn

The Phos Hilaron is the oldest known hymn in the Christian tradition that does not come directly from the Bible. It has been a treasured part of worship for over 1600 years. From a series of ancient hymn settings. Read more...

Risen

Easter Hymn

A dense and colourful rendering of the hymn Jesus Christ is Risen Today intertwined with phrases of the medieval text Surrexit Christus Hodie. From a series of ancient hymn settings. Read more...

Let the Choir

Christmas Sequence

An eleventh-century sequence—Laetabundus—sung to celebrate the Incarnation. It was once part of common Christmas liturgies. From a series of ancient hymn settings. Read more...

Salaam

Christmas Card

The common greeting Salaam (peace) presented in the square kufic style of the Arabic script and surrounded by the message of the angels at the birth of Christ. Read more...

Crux

Passiontide Hymn

A monochrome meditation on the Latin hymn Vexilla regis / The royal banner forward goes that combines the desolation and majesty that was the crucifixion. From a series of ancient hymn settings. Read more...

Gloria

Palm Sunday Procession

The hymn All glory, laud, and honour, traditionally sung in procession on Palm Sunday, but also appropriate for other times of the year, including Christ the King. From a series of ancient hymn settings. Read more...

O Emmanuel

Advent hymn

A large work based on the hymn O Come O Come Emmanuel, with headings from the ancient O Antiphons that inspired the song. Third in a series of ancient hymn settings. Read more...

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Come Holy Spirit

A large work with text from an ancient medieval sequence. Created in response to the burning of Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd, and in commemoration of Pentecost 2020. Read more...

The story of Gideon

Illuminated book

A handwritten book with illuminated caps containing the story of Gideon—from hero to tragic villain. A4 book with cover and case made as a gift for my grandson Gideon. Read more...

Many waters

Anniversary present

A small work presented to my dear wife, Sara, as a thirtieth anniversary present in 2014. We had been through some mighty floods in recent years together, and this passage from the Song of Songs (8:7) meant a lot to us. Read more...

Sword

Wedding present

A belated wedding present for my son Timo and his wonderful wife Lizzie. The stylized sword is composed of collections of text drawn from the Christian Scriptures that refer to the Word of God. Read more...

Go therefore

Two languages three scripts

Retirement gift for a dear friend and colleague. The Scripture in English on the outer ring is repeated in the inner rings, but in the Tai Dam language, which has three writing systems using the Latin, Lao, and Tai Viet scripts. Read more...