Henry Shelton interview

Yesterday I interviewed the artist Henry Shelton for a future article in The Month.

Henry Shelton was born and grew up in Stratford, East London. He joined West Ham church as a choir boy where he first became aware of the importance of Christian art.

After leaving school he joined a London studio as an apprentice draughtsman developing his drawing skills in lettering and fine art. After 15 years of service he set up his own studio receiving many commissions to design for such clients as the Science Museum, Borough Councils, private and corporate bodies.

During this time he continued painting Christian art and after meeting Bishop Trevor Huddleston he completed a series of portraits of him which were exhibited in St Dunstan's Church, Stepney, where he was also confirmed by the Bishop.

In more recent years Henry has worked designing in studios across the world, including Hong Kong and the USA. His commissions include a large oil painting of the Ascension installed as an Altar piece in the Church of the Saviour, Chell Heath; the Millennium Christian clock tower in Goodmayes and, most recently, the memorial etched glass windows in All Saints Goodmayes, depicting events in the life of Jesus.

In the interview, Henry spoke about his exhibition last year at York Minister, the dedication earlier this year by the Bishop of Barking of the memorial windows at All Saints Goodmayes and of his current plans to form a Christian Art Society that will both encourage the commissioning of modern Christian Art and raise funds for charity.

Henry will be exhibiting his most recent works and the Stations of the Cross which were exhibited in York Minister in Visual Dialogue 2, the Patronal Festival exhibition at St John's Seven Kings from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th October. He will also speak about Christian Art during the exhibition's Opening Night Reception from 7.30pm on Friday 3rd October. There is an open invitation to this event.

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Messiaen - Quartet for the End of Time.