The Llewellyn Tarot
Specs
- By: Anna-Marie Ferguson
- Boxed Kit 6 x 9 x 2 IN
- 288 pages
Author & Artist
Anna-Marie Ferguson was born in the historic New Forest of southern England and immigrated with her family to western Canada at the age of nine. Her life has since been divided between the two countries. Both the mediaeval roots and ancient woodlands of her birthplace - and the vast, wild landscapes of Canada are reflected in her art. As a self-taught artist she began her career with a British graphic design studio at the age of sixteen. It was her interest in history and mythology that led her to paint and later write about the characters of legend.
In 2006 created The Llewellyn Tarot, a flagship title to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its publishing house. In her choice of projects, the opportunity to resurrect lesser known histories and mythologies is a consideration and the deciding factor in her committing to The Llewellyn Tarot which showcases the Celtic culture and history of Wales.
While drawing on many cultural and literary sources, Anna-Marie explains “The land itself is my first inspiration, and then the legends which grow out of it. The realistic treatment of landscape in a painting - light, figures, etc. - and the realistic depiction of the unreal creates a tension in an overlapping of worlds…Not fantasy in the typical sense removed from this world, nor the sterility that can come of photographic realism, but somewhere in-between...It is this borderland of mystic realism that I strive for, and the thrill of painting what cannot otherwise be seen.”
As classical watercolour, the paintings serve as book illustration and individual works of art, making for popular museum exhibits and additions to private art collections. Most recently Anna-Marie was nominated for the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta’s Award of Distinguished Artist.
Artistic work aside, in the past few years Anna-Marie has devoted much time to the welfare of wildlife (please see Unnatural Enemies: the War on Wolves, winner of the 2016 Genesis Award for international television documentary– awarded by Humane Society of the United States). While continuing to work for humane treatment of animals, she returns to her arts with an ambitious, original story set in the 14th century.