For a short time I started painting pebbles. A good friend brought me some pebbles from her trip to the seaside. As soon as I saw this particular pebble I could see a Madonna and Child painted onto the surface. Because of the size of it, it fits nicely into the palm of the hand but would look beautiful in a carved base of some description, perhaps with a small candle sitting in front. It seemed incomplete without painting the reverse, and I chose a star motif, on a deep red background. After varnishing the pebble, the gold halos turned to an antique gold colour and sit well with the feel of a Russian Icon or early religious painting.

This really is a one-off where the pebble 'spoke', imploring me to paint the Madonna and Child.