This is a truly ancient art form, which covers a huge time span, from the Neolithic era, right up to the present day. It is a type of art that I have been drawn to for a really long time and there is so much about it that I really love.

It was often created in response to the landscape in which the people lived, or as art that had religious or spiritual significance.

The image above is called “The Salmon of Knowledge” – this is s design which appears in many different forms. I really like its title – I find it intriguing and humorous in equal measure…what is it that the salmon has knowledge of? Everything? How to cook an omelette? 😄

Many of the pieces have names like this. They would perhaps have been named by the artist as something that was personally important to them, to their tribe or to their religion or beliefs.

One area of this art that I particularly love is where the design crosses over with script. Illuminated manuscripts have been something I have loved for many years. I have a strong interest in calligraphy and I love to think of the monks in their scriptoria slaving away in he middle ages, hundreds of years ago, to produce these beautiful religious documents, which are still looked on as being beautiful and important today.

These designs are so intricate and interwoven. They often include animals in their designs. These are known as “zoomorphic”. The woven designs are called knotwork and feature in almost all of the designs, often used as embellishments and borders. Natural form was used to inspire these artisans as they created their beautiful pieces. The Tree of Life, Celtic Cross and heraldic beasts often feature. The pieces are like jewelled treasures, in which I see something new every time I look at them.