Current Work

Over recent years I have become fascinated by the idea of pilgrimage and the beauty to be found in the inherent precariousness of such journeys, as illustrated by the voyages undertaken by the early Christian saints who travelled from Ireland to the west coast of Scotland in rudimentary coracle boats, made of nothing more than willow and animal skins. Undertaking these journeys was a matter of faith. They placed their lives in the hands of God.

I am also drawn to the power of devotional art found in a diverse range of traditions, such as the decorative illuminations of the Book of Kells, Hindu religious imagery, Russian iconography and the dazzling use of colour and symbolism to be found in European Mediaeval religious art. And much of my reading nowadays is of a profoundly spiritual nature, so I have a whole host of writers to inspire me, including John O’Donohue and Satish Kumar, and poets such as George Mackay Brown, Mary Oliver and Norman MacCaig.

I like to walk and, although it may not happen, I hope to travel at least bits of some Scotland’s conventional pilgrims' ways, along forgotten routes, such as the Whithorn Way in Dumfries and Galloway. So, I intend to start making work under the theme of Pilgrim, recording conventional details of my walks through the land and my visits to sacred sites - churches, wells, standing stones and so on - but also finding creative expression for my own spiritual journey through this later stage in life, as I ‘come to terms with it all’.

This will likely be the final and ongoing theme for my writing and visual work and will likely only end when I do! The best thing about deciding on this broad but challenging theme is that it does not hold me to any particular medium, so I will enjoy using word, paper, clay, mosaic, fabric, wood - whatever. But the core artefact I intend to create will be an enormous family bible-type hand-made book, filled with illuminated papers. I can't wait to make a start on it.

Jan Kilpatrick

August 2026.