Coventry Art and Artists

Press Release Coventry born Artist paints Christ in Glory for Westminster Abbey Artist Keith West, born in Longford and studied at Coventry College of Art in the late 1960s, exhibits a 2 metre high painting of Christ in Glory at St Margaret's, Westminster Abbey from 20th November to 2nd December. The painting titled 'Majestas Domini' depicts Christ enthroned on a slab of stone, surrounded by a billowing shroud which suggests the Christian symbol of the fish. The artist does not imagine Christ as meek and mild but a powerful man, a humble carpenter and neither is He crowned, dressed in fine robes or haloed as depicted in most traditional versions. The painting was commissioned by Rector Andrew Tremlett, Canon at Westminster, who previously invited the artist to exhibit a suite of eight large paintings of the Passion during Lent this year. The Passion was first shown at St Alban's Cathedral in 2008 and subsequently at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, St James' Piccadilly and the Actors' Church in Covent Garden. The artist suggested that "they're on a kind of pilgrimage." In discussion of the Passion paintings, the idea emerged that the empty tomb need not be the conclusion of the set. Although influenced by early Christian icons, it is not surprising that the Coventry Tapestry was a significant influence, especially since the artist had connections with the Cathedral at the time of the consecration, and personally with the late Bishop Cuthbert Bardsley. Since leaving Coventry in 1970, Keith West has been a freelance artist and teacher, exhibiting in group and one-man exhibitions to the present. As Head of Arts at the Camden Institute, he ran the largest art programme for adult students in the country and established the first accredited adult art course with the Open College. His work is unfashionably 'traditional' in subject matter, including portraiture and narrative images based on the theatre, ballet and biblical themes. Portraits include the late Russell Harty, Edna O'Brien, Wayne Sleep and Dame Janet Baker. When asked why biblical subjects his responded; "Greek myths are concerned with the sub-conscious, whereas biblical stories and themes say a great deal about human nature - I feel many biblical events tell my biography.' In 2008 Keith West was commissioned by the Tate Gallery Archive to write a memoir of his experiences as a student at Coventry College of Art in the 1960s. It took four years to research and write and the document accessions the archive in November.

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Majestas Domini, oil on canvas, 78 x 60" (198 x 152cm), 2012 St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey St Margaret Street, London SW1Y Rev'd Andrew Tremlett to feature the painting during the 11am Holy Eucharist Sunday of Christ the King, 25th November The painting on display from 20th November to 2nd December Admission free, opening hours Mon - Fri 9.30am - 3.30pm, Saturday 9.30am - 1.30pm