Saint Withburga was a seventh century Princess and Abbess born in Holkham, North Norfolk. Thought to be the youngest daughter of King Anna. A legend exists that she founded and built a small monastic community of women near to Dereham. The builders of the monastery and the nuns suffered from a lack of food, but two wild Does came to the settlement and allowed themselves to be milked, providing sustenance and encouragement in their work and contemplation. After her death a spring is said to have welled up and this became a site of pilgrimage and may still be visited.

I hoped to create a contrast between the simplicity of the life of Withburga and the otherness of the enduring story of connection. A story which drew my attention. The Deer and Saint Withburga embrace, her eyes gazing into the future, the deer seems to hold an awareness of the viewer. They seem protective of each other in their quiet place.

The original artwork has been accepted for the 2026 Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, located at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London and may be found in the room curated by Eileen Cooper.