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Imaging the Bible in Wales

This research project brought together work on the Visual Culture of Wales with Biblical Studies, examining ways in which Biblical themes, subjects and characters have been expressed by visual artists in a variety of media. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the project was based at the University of Wales, Lampeter, from 2005–8.

Logo designed for the project, based on an image of the symbol of St Matthew from a window in the Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Dolgellau, and text by Henry Wilson at Brithdir, near Dolgellau.

Experience of working on the Visual Culture of Wales series proved that there was still much more work to be done and discoveries to be made in the field. Concentrating on just one theme and within a certain timespan, that of biblical images during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, produced a wealth of new and varied material, some of it of great quality and imagination.

After J. Tolhurst and Geoffrey Webb, The Annunciation, c.1927, detail of the reredos formerly at the Church of St James, Cardiff		Karl Parsons, The Good Samaritan, c.1930, Church of St James, Pyle, near Bridgend

Much of the material researched and recorded for the project was from places of worship in Wales. As both photographer and researcher for the project, several thousands of my photographs are now available on the online project database. The database was produced to my design with the specialist Nigel Callaghan. Working with Chris Gibson, I also wrote and produced a DVD-ROM Imaging the Bible in Wales based on the research undertaken with the Project Research Fellow John Morgan-Guy.

The project was directed by Martin O'Kane, who co-edited Biblical Art from Wales with John Morgan-Guy. The DVD-ROM is only currently available as a combined package with the book.

For more information on the book and database, please visit:

Biblical Art from Wales | Imaging the Bible in Wales Database

An exhibition was also organised to coincide with the 2008 Imaging the Bible in Wales Symposium:

Imaging the Bible Exhibition