Jenny writes...

I have over 30 years experience in art-related professions; from advertising and marketing through book writing and illustrating to interior design (winning 2 international design competitions) and painting murals.

I had a dramatic conversion experience in 1989 with visions; one significant vision propelling me into painting trompe l'oeil murals in churches, and my Bible education started there. It seemed obvious at the time (after all I was only painting what I saw!) Only recently has it occurred to me that these murals were breaking new ground....in fact these church walls were painted as though breaking down, and we could see the things of the Kingdom of God revealed on the other side. Using trompe l'oeil tricks to explain and link Bible themes in imaginative visual ways made it a compelling and often emotional experience.

Since then, the 'visionary' aspect of the projects I've done - both for my local church and across the denominations - has challenged me in every way, and although painting is the expression I use to communicate ideas, I'm coming to the conclusion that it's the imagination that is the important factor, and any talent for painting I have is just a bonus.


And we all have an imagination. We are made creative; in the image of God, whose first impulse was to imagine new things into being. Both CS Lewis and Selwyn Hughes both declared that the imagination was probably God's greatest gift to us. The language of metaphor and parable illuminates God's truth to us, and our imaginations are stimulated to recognise deep truths, and the richness of God's thoughts - the better we get at speaking this language and learning its vocabulary, the better we will understand the things of God's Kingdom which I firmly believe is the reality of which our world is the metaphor.

I want to find ways to bring together creative people and use their inspired imaginations for the good of the church community and to know more of God....not as individuals producing art or craft or children's work, but to encourage the collective 'visionary'. If we are a 'priesthood of all believers' and we can go beyond the torn veil into the Holy of Holies...maybe what we find is a new landscape to explore...(a new Eden?) and where we can encounter God.

This can revolutionise prayer life and Bible study as well as provide a forum for problem solving and enquiry of God.

This is a visionary approach, not the prophetic as it is currently understood, though we know God can walk with us, speak with us, and proclaim his will through us at any time. But the imagination is engaged right at the beginning, so there is no embarrassment about it.

I am currently working for Leap of Faith on a short course (with suitability for schools as well as church groups) to encourage spiritual thinking using the themes of Advent, and a liturgy for 'Exploring Eden', a service which I hope will enable creative people in churches to come together and pool the power of their imaginations.