A New Journey Begins – My Tarot Deck
For many years I have drawn wildlife, portraits and illustrations, but every so often a project appears that quietly refuses to leave you alone.
For me, that project is a tarot deck
I'm using the timeless Rider–Waite imagery as my guide while interpreting each card through my own style.
My figures are mostly Edwardian, the colours are inspired by stained glass and mosaics, and everything is drawn with the coloured pencils that have been my companions for so many years.
One of the greatest challenges has been finding the balance between remaining faithful to the symbolism while creating something that feels unmistakably mine. Some cards demand elaborate scenes; others become stronger when reduced to the simplest arrangement of hands, objects and colour.
As with all my work, every piece begins as a careful pencil drawing before slowly emerging, layer by layer, through countless hours of coloured pencil. There are no shortcuts. Every tiny section of mosaic, every fold of fabric and every subtle shift in colour is built gradually.
I've included a photograph of one of the drawings still in progress because I think it's important to show that artwork doesn't arrive fully formed. It grows, often slowly, with plenty of uncertainty along the way.
The Fool was one of the first cards I tackled, full of optimism and movement. The Hermit followed—a quieter, more contemplative figure whose lantern became an opportunity to echo the mosaic motifs running throughout the deck.
There are still many months of work ahead. Seventy-eight cards is a daunting undertaking, and no doubt there will be moments when I wonder why I ever started! But that's part of the adventure too.
Over the coming months I'll be sharing sketches, finished cards, thoughts about symbolism, and perhaps a few of the inevitable mistakes that happen along the way.
I hope you'll enjoy following the journey with me.
After all, every adventure begins with The Fool taking that first step.
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