Iluminations: gallery room two

Welcome to the Gallery. Stroll at your leisure around this display of Alison's work. To save you from having to scroll too far, the Gallery is split into seven "rooms" - this is ROOM TWO.

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

Some of the paintings can be bought as cards. If so, their availability is included with the card details. Contact Alison about prices.

Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace

Poster produced for the Past Times heritage shops company.

Millennium Nativity

A traditional nativity scene, but set beneath a stable roof distinguished by its resemblance to London's Millennium Dome. Ancient and modern combine to celebrate Christmas and to herald in the new Millennium.

Epiphany

Inspired by Turkish horsemen in a 14th century French chronicle of the crusades, these three Saracen kings ride to Bethlehem.

I Saw Three Ships

Mary and Jesus sail into Bethlehem in a ship resembling the Matthew, which had carried the explorer John Cabot and his crew from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497.

Gloucester Cats

Legend tells how on Christmas Eve all the cats in Gloucester could speak as they prowled the city's alleyways and rooftops, until the midnight bells of Gloucester Cathedral broke the spell.

Good King Wenceslas

The good king and his page struggle through the snow and bitter weather.

Tewkesbury Sleigh Ride

A medieval, horse-drawn sleigh skates over the snow beside the chantry chapels at the south east corner of Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire, as it may have appeared in about 1500AD.

Bathtime

Although considered by some to be an effete and degenerate practice, "an hote bath of swete watre" presented medieval bathers with the opportunity to clean and preen themselves, while medicinal baths were also prescribed to treat the symptoms and ease the pains of the sick.

Manuscripts list when and with whom baths might be taken, and give details of the most effective herbs and potions to be added to the water. The rich might bathe in marble or stone baths. Most commonly, portable wooden tubs were used.