A religious sister for a short while, Jacky
has lived alongside Poor Clares, Cistercians, Capuchin Franciscans and
Benedictines as well as Carmelites. She was trained as an iconographer by a Poor Clare Sister and has also been hallowed as an iconographer by an Orthodox priest.
After living in hermitages in London and North Wales including an extended retreat on the holy island of Ynys Enlli – meaning the Island of the Currents – or Bardsey Island off the Llŷn Peninsula of North West Wales, Jacky now lives in poverty and simplicity following a rule of life in the Carmelite tradition of contemplative prayer in the little Dorset seaside town where she was born.
Jacky has a Diploma in Technical Illustration. She also has a Diploma in Social Work and spent eight years as a social worker before entering religious life. She has two children, both happily married and two grandchildren, whom she visits regularly. When not visiting family or giving workshops she spends her time working in silence and solitude.
Iconography literally means "image writing". Icons are not strictly an art-form; rather they are a statement of theology and are 'written'.
Stella Maris icons are written using the ancient medium of egg tempera on wooden panels.
Jacky usually works to commission and is happy to be sent prints of icons for her to reproduce in her own style.
Icons cost from £50 to £1000 depending on size, plus postage and packing.
A small selection of Jacky's icons and other works are illustrated throughout this site.
She also produces a range of cards with envelopes.
Please contact Jacky to find out more.
Stella Maris means 'Star of the Sea' in latin. In Welsh it is Seren Y Môr. Stella Maris is a name favoured by Carmelites for the Mother of God.
The early Carmelites, hermits who went to live on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land after the Crusades, took Elijah and Mary as their patrons. Mary was their special patron and was likened to the little cloud from the sea which Elijah saw when he lived on Mount Carmel.
The sea is a great inspiration for Jacky; a constant reminder of just how small and insignificant the human person is compared to the wild, wide ocean that helps her to get things into a proper perspective and induces a state of serenity and peace.
With friends from various religious traditions, Jacky prays for Christian Unity, religious and cultural tolerance and understanding and for world peace and justice.
May
I, the poet Meilyr, pilgrim to Peter,
Gatekeeper who judges the sum of virtue
When the time comes for us to arise
Who are in the grave, make me ready.
May I be at home awaiting the summons
In a fold with the moving sea near it,
A desert it is of unfading honour
With a bosom of brine about its graves,
Fair Mary's Isle, pure island of the pure,
The heir of the resurrection, it is good to be in it.
Christ the foretold cross knows, will keep me
From the pains of Hell, that place of exile.
The Creator who created me will meet me
In that fair parish of Enlli's faithful.