Stars, Light, Wonder 

Artist: Nigel Groom

Medium: Acrylic/acrylic ink/gold leaf and foil

Size: 60cmsx60cms

Date: July 2019

Themes: Birth of stars, light, epiphanies, beginnings, transitions

"O Lux Sapientiae"

On entering the Oratory at Mucknell Abbey it is easy not to notice the large painting hanging on the west wall; rather the eyes are drawn to the carved stone statue of the Virgin Mary and he child.

Jesus arms are opened wide in delighted welcome.

On leaving the Oratory, however, the eyes are confronted by the vibrant colours and energy of the painting "O Lux Sapientiae". It hangs in the centre of the wall, just to the right of the statue, in stark contrast to its dull stone calmness.

One can imagine Mary's invitation: "Do you want to hold him?"- But who is this child who now seems to want to leap out of Mary's arms into yours?

The painting suggests that this is no ordinary baby; this is the Cosmic Christ , the creator of the vastness of the universe. From the still white centre of the painting the light and colour explode, showering a wonder of galaxies and constellations to the extremities...and yet, even as the eyes move outwards to ponder the whole, they are drawn back to the still white disk from which the light and colour emanate, drawn into that seemingly infinite space within the atom, the source of so much energy.

The painting, given to the Abbey by the artist, Nigel Groom, was first seen in the Oratory in the first light of the Easter Vigil, the golden discs reflecting the light of the Paschal candle. I was reminded of Ann Lewin's verse; "Easter Morning", when the Risen Christ speaks to Mary Magdalen.

Do not cling...Let me be bigger than your heart can hold.

Rise with me to a larger vision

Abbot Stuart Burns OSB

“Artists are mediums through which the human imagination and soul is reflected.”

                                                (James Roose Evans)

 ARTIST:   NIGEL  GROOM

MEDIUM:  Acrylic/ink/gold leaf

DIMENSIONS:  91cmsx91cms

DATE:  4TH May 2014

"Nunc et Semper" (Now and always) uses acrylic, acrylic ink and 24k gold leaf to continue a theme dear to my heart - the idea of the eternal expressed through manifestations in the cosmos of the explosion of dark matter.  Recent research in astrophysics and cosmology on the genesis of the universe, and its formation out of dark matter, has caused much excitement amongst scientists and physicists.  As an artist who ponders the nature of existence and belief  and values the insights and advances of scientific research I am inspired by these discoveries.

Painting this was a joyful and energetic experience, a celebratory  dance of wonder and magic, light out of darkness and the wonder and mystery of new life.    

Nigel Groom 2014

  NUNC  ET  SEMPER

 Artist:   NIGEL GROOM

Medium:  Acrylic/Acrylic Ink/24k Gold leaf on deep edge canvas

Dimensions:  910mmx910mm

Date: 11th January 2015

 Lumen de Lumine (Light from Light).

Words:   Cosmic    Creation    Birth    Wonder    Adoration

 Following the themes of Epiphaneia (the Appearance) and Nunc et Semper (Now and Always),  Lumen de Lumine (Light from Light) also seeks to express the wonder and awesomeness of Creation. 

  LUMEN  DE  LUMINE

ARTIST:   NIGEL GROOM

MEDIUM:   ACRYLIC/INK/GOLD LEAF

DIMENSIONS:   99cmsx99cms

DATE:   JANUARY 2014

“O Grace abounding, whereby I presumed

To fix upon the eternal light my gaze

So deep, that in it I my sight consumed!

I beheld leaves within the unfathomed blaze

Into one volume bound by love, the same

That the universe holds scattered through its maze.

Substances and accidents, and their modes, became

As if together fused, all in such wise

That what I speak of is one simple flame.”

Dante Alighieri: La Divina Commedia, Paradiso xxxiii 82-90.

The painting was commissioned by St Catherine’s Church at Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry as part of the installation for their new church. The painting was completed on the Feast of the Epiphany 2014. The title of “Epiphaneia” is from the Greek meaning “Appearance”.

Coinciding with Epiphany, I wanted the painting to express the themes of cosmic light,  birth, death and re-birth, becoming, showing, revealing and appearing – all associated with something tremendous, awesome and wonderful happening. This is the Epiphany star which draws all things to itself, yet forces massive energies outward into the formation of new stars beyond anything that can ever be imagined. 

The cosmic wheeling which we see in the circular motion in the painting is associated with the patron saint of the church who is St Catherine. She was known as St Catherine the Great of Alexandria or Catherine of the Wheel and lived in the early 4th Century. She is often associated with the Catherine Wheel (which we light on “fireworks night” which occurs in the month of November). 

In the attempt to break her faith, St Catherine was reputed to have been tortured on a spiked wheel which was called “the breaking wheel”. The legend goes that angels came to her aid and smashed the wheel to pieces. The  emperor Maxentius in his fury eventually had her beheaded. She is venerated as a Virgin and Martyr of the early church.

The whirl of movement in the painting - a great wheel spinning in the heavens, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, the light that can never be extinguished.

Nigel Groom January 2014

EPIPHANEIA

 O lux gaudium (O Light of Joy)

 (O LIGHT OF WISDOM)

ARTIST:   NIGEL GROOM

Medium:   Acrylic/acrylic ink/gold leaf

Dimensions:  90cmsx90cms

Date:  February 2016

This is the tenth painting in the series of cosmic images

Words/Theme:   Stars, Light, Epiphanies, Auguries, Revelation, Wisdom, Sophia

 O LUX SAPIENTIAE

Artist:    Nigel Groom

Medium:   Acrylic/acrylic ink/gold leaf and foil

Dimensions:   91cmsx91cms

Date:   Completed 22nd November 2015 (Feast of Christ the King)

Words:   Wonder of creation, light, beginnings, awakening of the spirit, Life

This is the ninth in the series.

 O Lux Excitatio  (O Light Awakening)

 Artist:    Nigel Groom

Medium:   Acrylic/acrylic ink/24k gold leaf on deep edge canvas

Dimensions:    50cmsx50cms

Date:   January 2017

This painting was a commission for a friend's 70th birthday

 STAR OF BLESSING  (Stella Benedictio)

Artist:   Nigel Groom

Medium:   Acrylic/acrylic ink/gold leaf on deep edge canvas

Dimensions:   91cmsx91cms

Date:   Completed13th November 2015

(Feast of All Saints of the Order of St Benedict)

Words:  Nativity, stars, creation, beauty, light, life

 O Star of Wonder, Star of night,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect light.

Title:    Stella Mirabilis  (Star of Wonder)

Artist:   Nigel GroomMedium:   Acrylic/acrylic ink/gold leaf on deep edge canvas

Dimensions:   91cmsx91cms

Date:    27th February 2015

O Lux Transcendens (O Light Transcendent) continues the theme of Creation, the mystery and awesomeness of the Cosmos and the birth and death of stars.

Words:    Light out of Darkness     Transcendence     Spirit of Creation

Glory         Wonder

 O Lux Transcendens

Artist:    Nigel Groom

Medium:    Acrylic/acrylic ink/gold leaf on deep edge canvas

Dimensions:    91cmsx91cms

Date:    19th January 2015 (Feast of St Wulstan)

Ex Nihilo (Out of Nothing) continues the theme of Creation, the mystery and awesomeness of the Cosmos and the birth and death of stars.

Words:      Darkness     Light     Creation     Fire     Spirit

 Ex Nihilo

Artist:   Nigel GroomMedium:   Acrylic/acrylic ink/gold leaf on deep edge canvas

Dimensions:   91cmsx91cms

Date: 14th February 2015

Lux Aeterna (Light Eternal) forms part of a series on the theme of the wonder of Creation, Light, the Cosmos.

Words:   Transcendence     Light     Eternity     Glory     Wonder

Lux  Aeterna

 Artist:    Nigel Groom

Medium:    Acrylic/acrylic ink/gold leaf on deep edge canvas

Dimensions:    91cmsx91cms

Date:    10th February 2015 (Feast of St Scholastica)

Cantate caeli (The heavens sing) continues the theme of Creation, the mystery and awesomeness of the Cosmos and the birth and death of stars.

Words:      Shining    Light     Creation     Radiance    Wonder

  Cantate caeli