The inspiration for my Beaded Beasties mixed media assemblages can come from many places: the beads themselves because of their colour and shape or perhaps an idea sparked by a picture or book.

In this instance, a book that I read many years ago, Mary Stewart’s ‘The Crystal Cave’, part of her Arthurian Legend trilogy, was the catalyst. King Arthur’s story has held the imagination for centuries and he is associated with various parts of Britain – Wales generally, Glastonbury, Tintagel in Cornwall and even here in the Scottish Borders where the Eildon Hills were said to be hollow and Arthur and his knights were sleeping until they were needed again.

My artwork is a fantasy scene incorporating various aspects from the legend of King Arthur and is not directly related to the book’s storyline other than the idea of a crystal cave.

Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, is embedded in the stone and I have added a ‘dragon’s head’ standard, picking up on Arthur’s family name of Pendragon.

There’s also a statue representing the Great or Mother Goddess, a principal deity of pagan Britain. Star-spangled clouds and a cratered moon are set against an atmospheric night sky. The crystals, holographic ‘stars’ and glimmers from the moonlit tree all provide sparkle. The final ingredient is a pair of flying insects that I am calling Mourning Moths. This pair have been made with the clips from earrings that are now set at the bottom of the cave. The wings are cut from a recycled flocked greeting card. I like the idea that they are mourning the loss of one of Britain’s greatest mythical heroes. 

I believe that the whole frame is imbued with a sense of mystery and magic. It would make a wonderful gift for anyone who loves our myths and legends or stories from the fantasy world. You can find it here in my shop.

Derrick