Public Work
The Cross Stands Empty to the Sky
The Cross Stands Empty to the Sky (version 2) in St Bride's Church, Newtonmore, Highland
The Cross Stands Empty to the Sky was designed for this specific site in St Bride's Church in 2010/11. The painting was inspired by the Christian hope of life beyond death as expressed in the first two lines of Brian Wren's hymn:
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
The backdrop to the intricate, but empty, Celtic cross is a highly magnified gorse flower with thorns, which symbolises life and hope in the upper circle, and pain and decay in the lower.
The cross stands empty but the light of Christ's presence remains.
The Cross Stands Empty to the Sky (version 2), oil on board, 3150mm × 1220mm (10′4″ × 4′)