Iluminations: Latest Work

The excellent news for 2007-2008 is that Alison has produced four new works, which have been turned into cards celebrating Christmas and the New Year.

The cards, which can be seen below, are available in packs of five at £2.50 per pack, plus postage and packing. To place orders, contact Alison here.

To view a larger version of each of the cards below simply click on the relevant image. Remember, though, that the larger version has a bigger file size and will take longer to call in.

For details of the availability of cards and their prices, or to place orders, please contact Alison. You can find out contact details here.

When you have browsed this page, please visit the gallery section, which features lots more of Alison's paintings, some of which are also available to buy as cards.

*NEW* Ten Lords a'Leaping
• Actual size: 125mm x 175mm
• Greeting says: "With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year"

A colourful depiction of the tenth day of Christmas from the Christmas carol.

*NEW* I Saw Three Ships
• Actual size: 125mm x 175mm
• Greeting says: "With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year"

The three ships from the Christmas carol are beautifully and colourfully depicted.

*NEW* Jolly Snowballing Weather
• Actual size: 175mm x 125mm
• Greeting says: "With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year"

It's winter time and the perfect weather for a spot of snowballing by the boys from Eton.

*NEW* A 17th Century Hereford Christmas
• Actual size: 175mm x 125mm
• Greeting says: "With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year"

In 2007, new stained glass windows were installed in the Audley Chapel of Hereford Cathedral, commemorating Thomas Traherne, the 17th century Herefordshire priest and poet. The windows are by Tom Denny.

To further celebrate Traherne and his important place in Hereford's history, Alison Merry has produced another design in her Hereford series. You can see her previous Hereford work here.

Beneath a Hereford skyline Thomas Traherne (1637-1674) stands on a hummock from where he can better survey the scene of Christmas festivities outside the cathedral.

He is in felicitous mood. It is Christmastide. There has been a heavy snowfall. Golden candlelight glows through the windows of the Audley Chapel and the good folk of Hereford have come out to play.

Traherne carries a book of poetry and a nosegay composed of the three sweet smelling roses from the Brasenose College coat of arms.

Traherne had been an undergraduate at Brasenose College, Oxford. He wears clerical garb and an especially fine pair of shoes both in honour of the season and in remembrance of his father who had been a poor Hereford shoemaker.

A robin whispers into our gentle visionary's ear. Musicians play and people dance whilst others come to their windows to enjoy the spectacle. We see a sedan chair being pulled across the icy ground, a game of skittles and young men playing football. A child spins a hoop. An orange seller (Nell Gwyn perhaps?) has caught the eye of a dandy cavalier and another trader hawks plum pies.

The Dean looks down from the gatehouse and in the distance the Bishop also takes in the view.

The people have hung Christmas swags and garlands of holly and berries.

Two puritan women exit the colourful scene. Are they looking back disapprovingly or just casting a last glance at the little black cat which has crept back in from the 2006 Hereford Christmas card?