About

Welcome! My name is Nic Phillips and I am an artist specialising in the religious and the spiritual, the mythical and the mystical, and anything that could be termed ‘Sacred Art’. The aim of my work is to produce devotional images, to move and inspire spiritually.

I’m the artist/co-author with Kim Huggens of Sol Invictus: The God Tarot (Schiffer, 2007) and Pistis Sophia: The Goddess Tarot (Schiffer, 2020). Links to these can be found on the right. I am also the author and artist of Celtic Saints of Western Britain, (Avalonia 2015), and Breaking Chains: the Evolution of the Black Madonna (Avalonia 2021); the paintings from both books can be found here. My work ranges from paintings of saints, angels, gods and goddesses, and religious icons, to visionary art. The majority of my work is in acrylic on canvas, with the tarot decks illustrated in ink and watercolour pencil. Please enjoy these works and feel free to add your comments. Please also visit the links to my Etsy shop which features a range of greeting cards and prints of some of my paintings as well as original artwork.

PUBLICATIONS TO DATE

Sol Invictus: The God Tarot (2007)

Celtic Saints of Western Britain (2015)

Pistis Sophia: The Goddess Tarot (2020)

Breaking Chains: The Evolution of the Black Madonna (2021)

The Glastonbury Abbey Mindfulness Colouring Book (2022)

Glastonbury Abbey: A Spiritual Year (forthcoming 2023)

Sacred Animals (forthcoming 2023)

The Sacred Animal Oracle (forthcoming 2023)

Queering Deities (forthcoming)

My work largely follows my own spiritual interests but I also produce commissions for devotional purposes, and aim to deliver a very personal connection between the customer and their chosen aspect of the Divine, by working closely with the customer’s own vision and intuitively with that particular deity. If you are interested in commissioning a painting, please contact me at the email address below.

Contact email: nicholasphillips365@hotmail.com

2023 NEWS

Much of 2022 was spent finishing the paintings for the cards of the Sacred Animal Oracle, as well as the chapters for the book that complements it, Sacred Animals. More information on thier publication will be coming soon.

I also took time to work on a Mindfulness Colouring Book for Glastonbury Abbey, which is available from their shop and website here and in limited quantities from my own Etsy store. This features drawings inspired by the architecture, collections, wildlife and legends of Glastonbury Abbey.

PAST NEWS

Breaking Chains: The Evolution of the Black Madonna is here! Available through Amazon and most booksellers, and also directly from Avalonia here: https://www.avaloniabooks.com/product-page/breaking-chains The book is available in paperback (B&W illustrations) and in full colour hardback edition.

First new piece of the year is in conjunction with a gender diversity and equality workshop held by Jade Dalton-Roome (details: https://fb.me/e/3xoZJ0BHc) I am using this piece to raise money for trans-led charity Gendered Intelligence to support the trans and gender-nonconforming community. Until 2 March 2021, 100% of sales goes to the charity. https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/943631885/transcendence-prints-and-cards

UPDATE: Thanks to those who contributed, through the sale of prints and the original, £186 was raised for Gendered Intelligence. March 2021.

‘Transcendence’:
Rising above terrestrial expressions of God and Goddess are two ungendered beings made of stars, as we all are. United, they hold open the gateway to transcend rigid and outdated ways of thinking. The paper boat soul floats on its journey down the river of life towards new understanding, acceptance and joy.
Copyright Nic Phillips 2020

‘Pistis-Sophia: The Goddess Tarot’ is coming September 2020! Available to pre-order from Schiffer Publishing https://www.schifferbooks.com/pistis-sophia-the-goddess-tarot-6927.html  A 22-card majors-only deck exploring the Divine Feminine. Accompanied by an in-depth book delving into the myths behind, and the divinatory meanings of the cards. A sister deck to ‘Sol Invictus: The God Tarot’ (Schiffer 2007). Go to the ‘Tarot’ tab for a preview of some of the images from both decks.

Despite world events causing changes of plans, it is an exciting year with the forthcoming release of Pistis Sophia: The Goddess Tarot (more information to follow) and a new completed piece honouring the theme of this year’s Glastonbury Goddess Conference – the Earth Mother. This is ‘Pachamama’ the Andean World Mother. The original 24x24in canvas is available for sale for £300 + P&P. 

A new piece August 2019 – ‘Agate Mother’ a 7x7in watercolour available framed £50. for enquiries about this or other pieces please email nicholasphillips365@hotmail.com

A few stalls and a few new pieces to start the year, plus a couple of older pieces sold and made their way to new homes in the USA! Saint Senara and the Lady of Avalon (top left and top right) made way for two new pieces – a new Lady of Avalon and Lady of Montserrat! (bottom left and bottom right). Plenty more new works to come!

Catch me in person at:

Lightfest, Cullompton, Devon – Sat 22 September 2018

Wytches Market, Glastonbury – Sat 29 September 2018

Frost Fayre, Glastonbury – Sat 24 November 2018

The Occult Conference, Glastonbury  – Sat 23 February 2019

Wytches Market, Glastonbury – Sat 6 April 2019

I’m now on Instagram! There’s a preview of my latest posts to the right, follow along on @nicphillipssacredart 🙂

Work continues on my book on Black Madonnas and Black Goddesses, not only the research and writing but artwork continues to emerge, as with the below painting ‘Black Goddess Rising’. More info on the painting’s own page.

Stall appearances this year include the Occult Conference, Wytches’ Market, and Goddess Conference, all at Glastonbury Town Hall. Follow the Facebook page for more info.

For anyone interested in the subject of the Black Madonna and Mary Magdalene: The Trinity Wall St Church in New York are planning a pilgrimage to southern France and Barcelona, taking in some of the most famous sites linked with the two Marys, including Marseille, Sainte-Baum, Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer, and Montserrat. If you are interested, please check the details in the link and let me know, or get in contact with The Rev. Daniel Simons directly. Please note, the dates advertised are no longer valid as they did not have enough people to make the trip yet. I would absolutely love to make this pilgrimage and if you would too, let’s help make it happen! http://www.travelillume.com/trc/czh

Following a trip to Ireland for the first time, I decided to paint a triptych depicting the Divine Feminine in Ireland, from pagan to Christian times, when goddesses gradually morphed into female saints and old sacred sites became rededicated. This painting depicts the Cailleach, Brigid, and St Gobnait.

New painting! ‘Sophia-Wisdom’. First exhibited at the Glastonbury Goddess Conference 2017. Click picture for more information

*UPDATE* This painting is now sold and is becoming part of the Divination room in the Museum of Witchcraft, Switzerland!

Stalls and Appearances

I will be holding a stall at the 2017 Occult Conference in Glastonbury Town Hall on the weekend of February 18th and 19th. This will be a busy event with many top speakers and I will be there with new artwork including my latest painting ‘Guadalupe-Tonantzin’ (below). For more info about the conference see the website http://www.occultconference.co.uk/

I will also have a stall at the Wytches Market this spring on Saturday 8th April 2017 at Glastonbury Town Hall. Further info at http://www.wytchesmarket.co.uk/ 

NEW E-BOOK

Celtic Saints – Ancient Wisdom

I have a new e-book available on Celtic Saints, based on the content of the 2016 workshop. In a way an epilogue to ‘Celtic Saints of Western Britain’, it looks at the symbols encountered in the stories of the Celtic Saints and how they relate to pre-Christian myth and other cultures. Learn about Brigid’s mantle, Samson and the dragon, customs associated with holy wells and much more. What animals commonly appear in the saint’s life stories? Why was the head the most important part of the body to the Celts?

The e-book features some of my artwork and photos from many trips to holy sites in Britain. An ideal companion to ‘Celtic Saints of Western Britain’ featuring more about the saints of Wales and the Southwest and also the Northern and Irish saints.

Available here on Amazon for £1.99 or FREE if subscribed to Kindle Unlimited

Celtic Saints: Ancient Wisdom Workshop

One year on from the publication of Celtic Saints of Western Britain by Nic Phillips comes my first workshop on Celtic Saints on Saturday 28th May 2016 at the Avalon Centre, Glastonbury!

The book tells of the many folk tales and hagigographies written about the Saints of the Western ‘Celtic’ parts of Britain. Now delve deeper into the origins of the symbolism found in the stories, and parallels with other Celtic myths and with other cultures further afield.

The workshop runs from 10 til 6 and will feature in-depth discussion on some of the most prominent symbols in the Lives of the Saints. We’ll also look at the holy wells and hermitages of the landscape they dwelt in, and use the symbols we discuss as the focus for a creative exercise in the afternoon, culminating in a sharing around Brigid’s fire of inspiration 🙂

The cost is £30 for the day (£20 concessions); if you are interested please either message me on facebook or email me at nicholasphillips365@hotmail.com

Celtic Saints: Ancient Wisdom Exhibition

From April 29th to May 27th 2016 Blue Cedar Print Works and Gallery in Glastonbury will be hosting an exhibition of the paintings from the book with many on sale and prints also available.

Brand new online gallery hosted by the excellent Blue Cedar Printworks in Glastonbury! Here you can buy large giclee prints of some of my most popular works and also some original pieces for sale. Go to Blue Cedar Online to see what’s on offer and explore the other artists also exhibiting on the site. Don’t forget other products and prints available from my Etsy and Redbubble shops for the ideal gift for your loved one!   

Faces of the Black Madonna workshop

I shall be running a workshop with Priestess of Avalon and Sacred Dramatist Katie Player on Saturday 19th September 2015 at the Avalon Centre, 1 King St, Glastonbury. This is a one day workshop during which you will discover and discuss the mysteries of the origins and meanings of the Dark Mother, move with her in ritual dance, create your own sacred icon from collage, and honour her in divine celebration. Workshop cost: £50 (50% payable in advance, please contact nicholasphillips365@hotmail.com for further details).

I shall be exhibiting at the 2015 Glastonbury Goddess Conference in the Assembly Rooms, July 28th to August 2nd. This year’s conference honours star mother goddesses and I shall be exhibiting new piece ‘Danu (below). For more info see: www.goddessconference.com

Spring sees the publication of my book Celtic Saints of Western Britain by Avalonia ltd. Details of the book and how to order here: http://avaloniabooks.co.uk/catalogue/celtic_myth/celtic-saints-of-western-britain/

Photos from the book launch, 8th May 2015 at Glastonbury Abbey:

2015 Events news:

Nic will be exhibiting at

The 2015 Occult Conference, Assembly Rooms, Glastonbury. 21st March 2015

Medieval Fayre, Glastonbury Abbey. 4th-5th April 2015

Wytches Market, Glastonbury Town Hall, 4th July 2015

2015 Glastonbury Goddess Conference, Assembly Rooms, Glastonbury. 29th Jul-2nd Aug 2015.

Festival of Psychic Art, Glastonbury Town Hall. 29th Aug 2015.

Wytches Market, Glastonbury Town Hall, 3rd Oct 2015.

My painting ‘Beltane Rhiannon’ on the Red Tent altar, Glastonbury Goddess Temple, 2015 (above).

I will be holding my 2nd Mind Body Spirit Fayre in Cardiff on Sun 2nd Nov 2014 at Cathays Community Centre, Cathays Terrace, Cardiff where I will also have my own stall. More details on the facebook event page. The fayre is FREE ENTRY and will feature therapists, readers, and craftspeople as well as a full programme of talks and workshops on holistic topics charged at £2 each, 100% of which will go to the Children in Wales charity.

I have opened a brand new online shop in addition to my Etsy store, which features items handmade by myself including cards, prints, magnets, pendants, and candles. My new store at Redbubble features items such as clothing, phone and ipad cases, pillows, tote bags, and more featuring my artwork. Click on the links to both stores below

PHOTOS FROM THE 2014 GLASTONBURY GODDESS CONFERENCE

I spent the week in great company selling my artwork in Glastonbury Town Hall and working on the piece in the photos, ‘Santa Muerte’. Looking forward to being back for it next year!

This year I will be exhibiting and selling at two events in Glastonbury: for the second year running I will be part of the Annual Goddess Conference which is held Tues 29th July 2014 to Sun 3rd August. I will also be part of the Festival of Psychic Art, on Saturday 30th August. Both are taking place in the town hall and promise to be great events! For more information visit The Goddess Conference website and The Festival of Psychic Art on Facebook.

I will be holding a stall at my own Mind Body Spirit Fayre in Cardiff which will be held on Sunday 6th July at Cathays Community Centre, Cardiff. For more information about the event please see the facebook page here

 

Nic Phillips will be exhibiting and selling work at the ‘Spirituality in Art: Seeing the Unseen’ Exhibition at The Gate Arts Centre, Cardiff www.thegate.org.uk Saturday 19th October 2013 and at the Glastonbury Day of the Dead Conference, The George and Pilgrim, Glastonbury 2nd-3rd November 2013

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Nic Phillips will be exhibiting and selling work at the 2013 Glastonbury Goddess Conference from July 30th to August 4th. For more details see the Conference website www.goddessconference.com and specifically the Art and Artists page here.