A3 Print Unframed £30

Printed on archival heavyweight fine art paper 315gsm

This July, The Old School Gallery embarks on a contemplative journey with ‘Cuthbert’, a group show that delves into the enduring themes of hermits, visions, introspection, personal landscapes, and pilgrimage. Loosely framed around the historical figure of St. Cuthbert, whose legacy spans from Lindisfarne to Alnmouth, the exhibition explores the universal concepts that resonate just as strongly today. It’s a timely contemplation of withdrawal and the pursuit of personal truth.
The group show brings together a diverse range of artistic practices, featuring illustrators, printmakers, and fine artists. Each artist has interpreted these core themes, offering unique perspectives on solitude, spiritual quest, and the landscapes that shape us. The exhibition is an invitation to engage with these deeply personal narratives and consider our own pilgrimages.

St Cuthbert remains one of Anglo-Saxon Britain’s most compelling figures, inextricably linked to the wild, coastal landscape of Northumberland. Born around 634 AD, he spent his youth as a shepherd on the Border hills before entering the monastery at Melrose. His spiritual journey eventually brought him to the holy island of Lindisfarne, where he served as prior and bishop, anchoring himself deeply in the spiritual geography of the Northeast. Even centuries after his death, his legacy permeated the regional consciousness, famously inspiring modern writers like Benjamin Myers in his historical novel Cuthbert to capture the enduring mystique of his solitary pilgrimage across these northern marshes and shores.
Seeking a life of absolute devotion, Cuthbert famously retreated from human society to lead an ascetic existence on Inner Farhe Island, a stark, wave-lashed rock off the Northumbrian coast. There, he dug a cave-like dwelling into the earth and stone, surrounded by a high turf wall to block out the distracting sights of the mainland and the roaring sea. This sparse, subterranean-style hermitage became his sanctuary for contemplative prayer and manual labor. It was a place of profound isolation where he weathered fierce North Sea gales, relying entirely on his faith and the sparse crops he managed to grow within his enclosure.
Despite this severe isolation, Cuthbert’s hermitage was famously alive with wildlife, reflecting a legendary, gentle harmony with the natural world. Contemporary hagiographies recount how eider ducks—which locals still affectionately call “Cuddy’s ducks”—would nest trustingly at his feet, and otters would emerge from the surf to warm his frozen feet with their fur after he spent hours praying waist-deep in the freezing ocean. This deep affinity for animals and desolate coastal landscapes cemented his image not just as a stern ascetic, but as a tender protector of nature whose spirit remains deeply embedded in the Northumbrian coastline.

A3 297mm x420mm

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