MARTIN EARLE
Welcome. I am a Catholic artist specialising in works for churches and the liturgy. As well as painting in egg tempera and gilt, I carve in wood and stone, make mosaics, and create designs for other makers to execute. Working firmly within the venerable traditions of Christian iconography, my aim is to profess that ‘The Word became flesh
and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory’.
Born in 1984, I graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2009 and then spent two years in Israel as an assistant to children and adults with disabilities and in France as a member of the L’Arche community. In 2012 I started an apprenticeship with the iconographer Aidan Hart and have since worked full time within the field of sacred art. I set off with my own studio in 2017.
2023
Co-founded the Chichester Workshop for Liturgical Art
Awarded a Bishop Otter Trust scholarship to support offering teaching and apprenticeships.
9ft hanging crucifix painted for Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Cathedral, Aberdeen.
2022
Carved arms and painted crucifix for the Pontifical Beda College in Rome.
Three month ‘Art of Worship’ residency in Chichester Cathedral with Jim Blackstone.
2021
Hanging Italo-Byzantine Crucifix, New Orleans (current project).
Statue of Our Lady for the Monastero di San Benedetto in Monte, Umbira, Italy.
Altar in limestone, marble, sandstone and steel for a Catholic chapel in rural North Wales.
2020
Processional crucifix carved in oak and polychromed. St John the Forerunner Church, Austin, Texas.
Altar frontal carved in oak and polychromed, depicting the Adoration of the Magi. St John the Forerunner Church, Austin, Texas. (Current projects)
Wall paintings at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Baddesley Clinton. As well as the wall painting schema in the sanctuary, this project includes designing the complete decoration of church’s interior including stenciling in the nave and the baptistery. See images of the completed work here.
2019
Polychromed and gilded statue of the Virgin Hodegetria, private collection.
Icon of St Willibrord commissioned for the Catholic chaplaincy at Hull University.
Large altarpiece dedicated to the Lancaster Martyrs. St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Lancaster.
Wall-painting schema for St Francis of Assisi Church, Baddesley Clinton.
Designs for an altar carving. St John Orthodox Church, Austin, Texas.
2018
Designs for the reordering of a Catholic church in Britain, including designs for the altar, ambo, and other furnishings.
Hanging crucifix icon for a Norman church. St James Priory, Bristol.
Mosaic of St George. St George Orthodox Christian Church, Houston, Texas.
Oak carving of Christ in Glory. St John Orthodox Church, Austin, Texas.
2017
Icons of Blessed Charles de Foucauld, Christ the Gardener, St Edmund, and St Benedict.
Carved and polychromed coat of arms for the Bishop of Shrewsbury.
Triptych icon of the Holy Family. Private client.
Assisted Aidan Hart in a major wall painting project, depicting the Transfiguration, for the Catholic Chaplaincy at Lancaster University.
2016
Mosaic of the Archangel Michael for a private chapel in London.
Limestone carving of the Mother of God. Christ the King Orthodox Church, Omaha, Illinois.
Hanging crucifix icon. Egg tempera on tulipwood. Catholic Chaplaincy, Bristol University.
Assisting Aidan Hart in a variety of design projects, including wall-painting proposals for St Chad’s Oratory, Manchester and designs for the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Ennismore Gardens, London.
Graduated with a Diploma in Icon Painting from the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, London.
2015
Began working with Aidan Hart on a mosaic commission for St George Orthodox Christian Church, Houston, Texas. The church commissioned two mosaics, each measuring 5 × 3 metres, of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. The mosaics took around 3,500 hours to complete and were made from around 500,000 tesserae. The mosaics were competed and installed in 2017.
2014
Assisted Aidan Hart to create a large limestone carving of the Mother of God for Lincoln Cathedral.
Carved an altar, designed by Aidan Hart, for the Catholic Chaplaincy at Cambridge University.
Carved a limestone icon stand for St Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church, Madrid.
2013
Awarded Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust scholarship. QEST is an organisation founded by Royal Warrant holders to ‘fund the education of talented and aspiring craftspeople . . . [and] sustain Britain’s cultural heritage’.
2012
Began work as Aidan Hart’s full-time apprentice and, over the following two years, worked on a wide variety of projects primarily in mosaic, carving, and design.
2010-2011
Worked as an assistant to adults and children with learning disabilities in Israel and as a member of the L’Arche community in France.
2009
Graduated with a Masters degree from the Royal College of Art.
2008
Graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art.
If you have a question or anything you would like to discuss please don’t hesitate to email or call.
