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Gemma-She who Paints the Quiet, Bath Spa University, Newton St. Loe, Bath (2026)

23/06/2026

I started today with the quiet of the land.
There is something about the stillness of the , the way the grass sits like a mountain & the cloudless sky stretches out as a clear, observer asking you to be still with it.

I went to sit in the cool of the church here in
West Bagborough, carrying nothing but myself, the presence of Mother Mary & in my hand.
My intention was simple: to rest & to let Jesus minister His healing into the depths of my heart.

At my side sat a 3D installation piece I had constructed, a work born from repurposed materials gathered from the very soil I walk upon.
It was part of an assignment for my art ministry course & vision project for our benefices with the Bishop of Taunton.

Looking at it, I often feel underqualified, a mere student of a faithfulness so much larger than myself. Yet, as I sat in that silence, I felt God speaking a different truth.

A few weeks ago, I realised that I have moved house eleven times since the age of seventeen, yet I have never truly left these hills.

For so long, I was a wanderer in my own backyard, always looking for the next place to be.
But today, the urge to leave faded.
As a new, mature part of myself aged 48 emerges, beginning to settle, grounding itself without the old familiar fear of being afraid.

I am learning that to tell the story of Jesus is not just about loud gestures; it is about the bravery of staying, of rooting & of allowing Him to turn our restlessness into a sanctuary

I am finding that the biblical seeds planted by our ancestors are now taking a firm hold in my spirit
This journey has been affirmed by my recent completion of the Foundations Art Ministry Course, for which I am deeply grateful to have received these words from loves.art

Rooting is a ministry. The same God who guided my steps to these hills is the One who has equipped my heart to serve them.
As I continue to create here in the Quantocks, I offer this
not to elevate myself, but to honour the faithfulness that takes our simple 'underqualified' efforts & makes them a blessing for others.

I am grateful for this seal of trust & I look forward to how these gifts will unfold
❤️

22/06/2026

Reflection and Thanksgiving 🌼

This past weekend felt like a return to what I have always known I would be doing, embracing my creative journey at St Mary's Church Cannington and spending time at St Mary's Stringston.

What may have been an ordinary moment at St Mary's Holford Evensong on Sunday turned my direction inwards.

It was a reaffirmation of my own path deeply rooted in the land and the silence that surrounds these holy places

I confronted and overcame doubts that have lingered about being here and speaking publicly.
After much consideration and recent personal events leading up to this point,I have given myself permission to begin again & continue growing in faith, rooted in life amongst the Quantock Hills in this year of 2026.

This year is focused on developing my own personal artistic process,understanding who Jesus really is and honouring the gifts God has entrusted to my care.

It actually feels quite refreshing not to have to read aloud poetry or explain why I create.

I recognise that my approach may not be the way many choose & at times, I may feel underqualified
To bring hope in the midst of chaos.

However God has equipped my heart with the gifts and passion to share my art as an extension of my faith and service.

The stillness of the environment allowed eyes,ears and heart to reflect on the stories & rural traditions that have shaped this path of listening,noticing and responding to the resilience and wisdom that continue to guide the way forwards

I am especially grateful for the biblical seeds planted by our ancestors which continue to flourish and inspire my creative work. Their stories remain in my heart encouraging to honour these gifts through art and ministry.

Each piece of art I create carries the essence of dwelling here & values that resonate deeply within and the landscape that has nurtured my faith.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this weekend.
Your presence and insights added depth to the experience highlighting the importance of our shared connections in Christ&reaffirming my commitment to this path.

With deep appreciation

❤️ 🕊

19/06/2026

The Art of Dwelling🌳

When the Shepherd speaks, the path shows itself.
You don’t have to search for it in the noise of the world; you just know.
Today, my own personal process is an act of choosing the path least followed.
In a world that clamors for popularity and demands instant results,
I am choosing the beauty of His peace here at Dowsborough Hillfort
This perfectly built purposeful fortress upon the Quantock Hills, this divine source of flowing wisdom shifting the heavenly atmosphere.

I am learning to sit with the canvas instead of scattering myself in many places ,resisting the urge to rush toward the finished outcome.

There is a part of myself that wants to see it completed, but there is a deeper part that knows the value of the "not yet."

Every breath I take while I sit here is a walk closer with Jesus.
As the land reminds us, strength is found in stillness. With trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, I can relax in the knowing that I will never walk this path alone.

Painting has become my prayer. It is a way to calm the soul and rest in His unwavering presence.
This dwelling place of warmth here, amidst the history and the hills, has become my sanctuary.

We are not merely creating an image; we are painting a living testimony, inspired by the land around us, in memory of a recent artist who walked these paths before.

I allow my hands to become the vessel through which God speaks.

By remaining attentive, I am dwelling in the green pasture.
Painting is my prayer and every breath of praise & thanksgiving frees from the chains of the crowded road and toward the quiet certainty of His guidance.

"When I let go of the need to be seen by the world, I am finally free to be known by Him." 🙏
❤️ 🕊

18/06/2026

The Stillness of the Quantocks 🌳

At aged 48, returning to learning as a mature art student & being amongst the community in the serene village of Nether Stowey was not on my agenda.
Yet here, in the Quantocks, God chose the most convenient building for this year of stillness,healing & restoration.
We should have realised it as we returned for this second extraordinary year, gazing at a legacy of work in the garden room of Coleridge Cottage today.

As Psalm 50 swirled, "I know every bird in the sky," our eyes gazed upwards
A path of ministry last year sat in this garden room, and seriously, I would have thought that was a crazy idea. Believe it or not, amidst installation works of art in Quantock churches on public display that has unfolded this year in 2026.
I would have once asked, "What could someone like myself offer?" I am not the fastest; in fact, most of the time, I prefer to be still, but I know how to listen to the rootedness of trees.

I struggle to put into words how I feel, knowing how much has been pruned away to allow hands to start afresh.
With all the numberless goings on's in the world.

So I've focused upon scripture & imagination
As
I had no idea what to create today.

Did I have to go on a long hike to a leafy combe,climb out the deepest valley somewhere,book onto some exotic forest bathing retreat to grow closer to christ to ease all worries & fears?
Or simply breathe and look within at what was already there to deepen this connection with the heavenly & divine.

I simply decided to extend the land of fields and hedgerows in my 3D paper visual storytelling.
Inspired by my own handwriting lineage born here on the Quantocks.
So I let Psalm 23 lead the way whilst sat upon the green pastures as the church beside the well become the source of this curated piece, a dwelling place for prayer.
Sundays aren't just church days to congregate in; they are for ordinary people to sit in quiet places where the landscape and the spirit commune in silent dialogue"
Walking the illuminating path.

❤️ 🙏 📖 🕊
SS&L

16/06/2026

Sometimes your eyes may not see it,

but your heart feels it.

Settled.
Stillness.

A solitude walk.
Sacred silence.

A two-hour sunset walk,
with just myself
and the confidence
to begin quietly.

A peaceful presence.
A gentle heart.

It may not be the most popular way many choose
As feet stand upon the
Less travelled path

yet I choose it anyway.

As I whisper softly

May I have the courage
to walk where you lead
the wisdom
to trust it deeply

And the faith to follow it faithfully
Even when the way is quiet.

For the deepest things
are often found
in the midst of the quiet.
Where My heart learns to listen.

❤️ 🕊 🙏

14/06/2026

A Glimpse of My Simple Rural Life 🌿

Life isn't always about exhibitions, artwork, or the next creative project.

Some of the moments I treasure most are the quiet, restorative everyday ones people rarely get to see, that connect my heart to that of the land and the gentle pace of rural life.

This weekend, I spent time feeding my neighbour's chickens, watching them happily wander about the yard.
There is something wonderfully grounding about these simple routines.
A sense of joy can be found in caring for living things and being part of a community.

I also planted a geranium, enjoying the feel of the soil in my hands and the promise of new growth. These small acts of nurturing bring a sense of calm and connection that I deeply value.

Living close to the land is a path that continues to guide and unfold naturally as I acknowledge the wonder of slowing down, paying attention and finding gratitude in ordinary moments.
In doing so, I am continually drawn back to what truly matters most.
Whether it is tending to plants, spending time outdoors, or simply listening to the sounds of nature, these experiences nourish my spirit in ways that words can hardly express.

Today, I am grateful for a life that includes muddy hands, chickens to feed, flowers to plant, and the quiet companionship of the countryside.
🌿🌸🐓✨❤️

13/06/2026

Today was one of those days when I quietly asked God, "Why am I here?"
The answer did not arrive in words.

Instead, it unfolded gently through village gardens, familiar faces and sitting beside my mum in an old country church.

I'm having a quieter year this year of 2026
Slowly accepting its more of restorative one as a 48 yr old woman, mum & artist.

Exhibiting my own personal work here locally alongside other local artists was not something I had planned or believed even at the beginning of the year.
Yet somehow, I found myself grateful simply to be here despite the nervousness felt of being seen.

As light filtered through the windows and settled upon the stone.
I found myself noticing things I might otherwise have missed.
The care people pour into their gardens.
The stories carried within the Quantock communities. The generosity of those who open their gates and welcome others in.

Perhaps this is one way the Holy Spirit works.
Not always through loud gestures, but through opening our eyes to what has been there all along.

"In the stillness, compassion becomes visible."
The still soft voice speaks.

Today I found myself appreciating the people, stories and quiet acts of kindness that help sustain life within the Quantocks.

Grateful for the land that has held so much of my own walk and for the communities that continue to shape it.

In love we find strength.
Compassion is the light that guides us.
🌿❤️🕊

12/06/2026

Don't Stop Believing 🌳

I walk through this open doorway of my heart, grateful for the opportunity to let what begins here light up our own corner of the world.
Rurally, this is a busy time for the countryside, yet I am learning to focus on the quiet agenda God is stirring in the stillness.

This piece, painted on a clay Somerset rooftop tile, is part of an ongoing installation, a vision unfolding right here in this church, created alongside the local choir and the Quantock Deanery Choir on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

There is a vulnerable honesty in this process; the tile, born from our local somerset earth, was painted in the softened holiness of this sanctuary, absorbing the gentle pace of worship and the evening sunlight filtering through the glass.

It feels like a slow, steady process building what's right, grounded in the seasons of this natural landscape and the spirit of the Quantock communities. The Magnificat is woven through alongside Psalm 50: "I know every bird in the sky," reminding us of Christ’s presence as the light in our lives.

This work reflects my own personal journey of faith,carrying the warrior within,illustrating how creativity and voice contribute to a flourishing collective experience.
Trusting what my heart sees rather than my own eyes, Delving deeper into words from scripture and imagination,
As a continuation of developing art ministry healing abilities through ongoing studies.

It is a privilege to share this ongoing installation during the Garden Open weekend in Stogumber, rooted in this place where it is brought to life, to experience the calmness that remains.

❤️ 🙏 🌎 🕊

12/06/2026

From psalm to heart ❤️

When I first scribed this idea just as a few words onto paper as part of an assignment for the Art Ministry Foundation Course i had enrolled at the beginning of this year.
I could not have imagined how beautifully it would unfold.

It began as a vision for a community memorial painting inspired by the land and in memory of a fellow artist from this village who is no longer with us.

He knew these hills, pathways and landscapes as part of his own story.
His kindness, encouragement and gentle presence touched many within our Quantock community art group and continues to guide this project today.

I thought I was beginning with a painting.
Instead, I find myself appreciating the people, stories, landscapes and quiet acts of kindness that already exist here.

When you allow heaven to whisper and simply observe the process, something remarkable begins to happen.
The path slowly reveals itself.
The trees gather.
The light finds its place.
The canvas begins to tell its own story.
Through paint, memory, friendship and faith, his encouragement continues to find expression upon the canvas.

"Yet somewhere within the stillness, it is…
In love we find strength.
Compassion is the light that guides us."
The still soft voice speaks.

Here, where the divine communes beyond words, the Combe & valley of Dowsborough have become both inspiration and companion.

Psalm 23 has gently accompanied this path, not only as scripture, but as a lived experience within the landscape.
“He leadeth me beside the still waters.”

As we listen some more to the realness of hearts,, stories and acts of kindness that will remain woven into the earth long after we are gone.

Perhaps that is the quiet wisdom held within these hills:
To walk gently.
To listen deeply.
To trust the path as it unfolds.

The title Loving Your Villages Through Art has taken on a deeper meaning, revealing more than what once felt possible.
Courageously unafraid to begin again even when the outcome is unknown.

And to discover that what begins as a simple idea can become a living expression of remembrance, gratitude and love. 🌿❤️🌳🕊

11/06/2026

Scripture to vision to place in the real world.🖼

The afternoon light filters through historic stone, like a quiet welcome that soothes the spirit.
My walk today wasn't a race; it was a deliberate slow pace, a silent connection between the soles of my shoes and the cool, worn floorboards of this sanctuary.

I push the heavy door open today, the noise of the world outside fading into a muffled whisper, replaced by the scent of beeswax and the faint, sweet perfume of the lilies.
I walk toward her. She stands there, Mother Mary, constant and serene.
I don't see her as a statue today, but as a presence,a strong pillar in society,a companion who has seen the last eight months of my own unique path unfold.
I stop beside her, my breath slowing to match the heavenly stillness of the room.

We stand together, side by side, looking down at the work I’ve created.
In this quiet, the air feels charged with a gentle power.
I can almost hear it, that soft, grounding whisper against the backdrop of the silence:
“Do not be afraid of the stillness.”I didn't need to light a candle to find my way here.
The path I’ve been walking, the one I chose eight months ago, is illuminated from within.
I look at my art, then back at her and finally, I look at the place around us.There is no need to escape, no need to hide.
Relearning
I am someone learning to be seen for who I am.

There is only the unhurried confidence of knowing that here is where I can be still & start again.

The afternoon sun shifts slightly, turning the dust motes into tiny, dancing stars.

I take a deep breath, let the silence settle into my bones and prepare to step into the outside once again, carrying that warrior’s heart into the rest of the day.

❤️ 🙏 🌳 🕊

Gemma-She who Paints the Quiet

23/06/2026

22/06/2026

19/06/2026

18/06/2026

16/06/2026

14/06/2026

13/06/2026

12/06/2026

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11/06/2026

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