Illuminated hand-lettering and needle-worked borders

During 2009 Sue Symons will be completing her inspired artwork for a book celebrating the beauty and wonder of Creation which will have taken her over two years to finish.

It will consist of over sixty pages in a large format, each page framed with intricately embroidered borders. Using the poetic King James translation, Sue Symons has painted the text from Chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis onto highly decorated and illuminated backgrounds – for a few examples click the book icon below.

These pages will be interspersed with others containing a rich mélange of illustrative artwork depicting the great variety of plants, animals and insects with whom we share this wonderful creation – 112 different butterflies are illustrated on the endpapers alone. At the end of the book there are notes describing the materials and techniques used in decorating the pages. The book will have a hardback case binding and be printed to the highest standards.

What a wonderful treat to see Sue's exquisite work presented in such a stunning way. Just as when I viewed the originals while she was working on them in Bath Abbey, I have had an emotional response to the amazing detail, colours and techniques that Sue incorporates into her work. The stitched butterflies are literally breath taking and could almost fly from the page. I was especially delighted to find a kangaroo (with joey) on the page of living creatures! Congratulations on your publication and your recognition of Sue's unique and remarkable talent.