CELEBRATING 800 YEARS MAGNA CARTA BY JUDY HURST, DURHAM

Wrights of Lymm are pleased to have recently supplied Judy with 24ct Extra Thick Loose Gold Leaf which was used to create these wonderful pieces of work, celebrating the Magna Carta.

This vellum acknowledges the debt our modern world owes to the beginnings of democracy 800 years ago in 1215.

The central images refer to King John, who, amongst other things, was forced by his barons to agree to fair trials for all, to respect others' property, and to be himself constrained by these laws.

There are many symbolic colour references, for example, Purple is for power and influence Red for blood and life, Green for growth and change, Blue for hope and aspirations Anodised titanium inlays, a modern metal looking towards the future, And gold, for eternity, as it never decays, is extremely difficult to destroy ( goldsmith workshops used to burn their floor boards every few decades to recover lost gold dust!)

References als in the form of a Green Man for British lands, a Celtic Cross for the church which John had used for his own ends In the poplar board surround is a pounced design, and bottom left are jigsaw references to some countries who believe that their law system owes its existence to Magna Carta, including America and others.

The other full calf skin was commissioned by a Durham University College (St. Cuthbert's Society) for their 125th anniversary. Again, much symbolism, for example, colour symbolism as above, also.

Centre- Cuthbert's pectoral cross, Various animals and birds associated with the legends about the northern saint,

The whole design is held together with Judy's version of Celtic intertwining, so that every part of the painting depends on every other part for its existence - just as the pattern of life in our world depends on each component for its existence - which we are just beginning to realise, aren't we?