Celtic Saints of Western Britain

Celtic Saints of Western Britain is an exceptional exploration of the lives and deeds of many of the saints of Wales, Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. Included are better known saints such as David, Nectan, Michael and Piran, as well as some of the more enigmatic figures, such as Cuby, Helen, Just and Morwenna. Author and artist Nic Phillips successfully brings the saints to life - both by recounting the stories of these mystical, dramatic, humorous, and sometimes argumentative characters and through his distinctive, full-colour illustrations inspired by pilgrimages through the sacred landscape of their world. Drawing on historical and archaeological research, as well as medieval hagiographies, place names and folk remembrances the reader is invited to explore the saints within the Celtic landscape they inhabited. They travelled widely, and their lives were often tangled in a complex web of family connections, teachers and acquaintances. We find the Irish saints Brigid and Patrick celebrated in the south-west of England, alongside biblical figures such as the archangel Michael; and Joseph of Arimathea, who according to local legend, founded Britain's first church at Glastonbury. Occupying an imperative place in the Celtic world, the lives of the saints were filled with miracle and magic, sacrifice and compassion. Nic Phillips clearly demonstrates their enduring power as teachers, through the humanity and virtue they embody. ~ About the Author: Nic Phillips is an English artist and writer with a degree in History and Archaeology from Cardiff University. He spent 12 years in Wales, before moving to Glastonbury, Somerset, to work at one of his most cherished heritage destinations, Glastonbury Abbey. Nic began exploring the landscape of the West Country from a young age with regular holidays in Cornwall which would eventually inspire some of the paintings herein and the book which followed. After illustrating two tarot decks with Kim Huggens exploring the Divine Masculine and Feminine, entitled Sol Invictus and Pistis Sophia, Nic developed his art on a larger scale. He launched Nic Phillips Sacred Art and studying and creating Eastern inspired icons, alongside depictions of the Goddess, as well as numerous saints, in a distinctive modern style.