We are collaborating on an exciting project that has hosted an interfaith art exhibition and competition at St John’s Waterloo between March and April 2025. The next phase will be educational resources.

We invited artists to submit artworks that explore faith and divinity while provoking the viewer to think differently about how these have traditionally been portrayed.  Racial justice and inter-faith integrity are the central inspiration for this exhibition.

Our judges selected 26 artists

First Prize Winner – Iain Malcolm McKillop for ‘May They Be One’.
“I found the breadth of imagery in this exhibition a useful reminder of the variety of ways in which people feel that they encounter aspects of God, touch-on spiritual realities and explore truth.” My own painting ‘May They Be One’ suggested the idea that there can be elements of divine truth, from which to learn, in many ways of believing, and a variety of cultures.

Second Prize Winner – Amber Khokhar for ‘Sacred Palm’.
“I was honoured to receive second prize, as it represents a recognition of the exploration that defines my practice—one that looks to the symbols of the inner eternal world. The exhibition and its theme create a beautiful space for reflection on the spiritual inquiries that transcend man-made boundaries.”

Third Prize Winner – Sophie Hacker for ‘Infinity I’.
“I am delighted to be a part of the Cloud of Witnesses exhibition, which is an important contribution to the conversation around understanding between faiths. The range of work is eclectic and inspiring. The diversity of work perfectly reflects the diversity of the theme, and yet physically ‘hangs together’ with such integrity. The exhibition is beautifully curated and the catalogue offers a great insight into the theme and the artists’ intentions. It was a delightful surprise that my own piece was chosen to win the third prize!”

Artists
Amber Khokhar – Winner of the Second Prize
Carole Bury
Ceri Elisabeth Leeder
Chloe Campbell
Constance McIntosh Smith
David Robinson
Elizabeth Crichton
Federico Gallo
Fitzroy Schofield
Iain Malcolm McKillop – Winner of the First Prize
Ivilina Kouneva
Jill Hartman
J.R Bateson
Kirsty Kerr
Lorna May Wadsworth
Melissa Roskell
Michael Takeo Magruder
Pauline Medinger
Prasad Beaven
Raji Salan
Richard Kenton Webb
Shaeron Caton Rose
Sofia Butrus
Sophie Hacker – Winner of the Third Prize
Svetlana Atlavina
William Foyle

Working ecumenically and across faiths, St John’s Waterloo and the God who Speaks, advised by Art + Christianity, are seeking to raise awareness, understanding and mutual respect of our collective witness in the UK. We aspire to create a richer dialogue about how we see and understand faith and divinity and the value of creativity based on different faiths, cultures and experiences.

Three small cash prizes were awarded to three artists on 4th March 2025 as decided by our panel of judges: 1st Prize of £1,000, 2nd Prize of £750 and 3rd Prize of £500.

Panel of judges:
The Right Revd Peter M Brignall, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wrexham and recent contributor to BBC 2’s ‘Pilgrimage Series’ (Chair).
Monica Bohm-Duchen, art historian, curator, lecturer, writer, and Founding Director of ‘Insiders/Outsiders: Refugees from Nazi Europe and their Contribution to British Culture’.
Graeme Mortimer Evelyn, an internationally renowned multi-media artist, musician, and curator whose work in civic and sacred spaces interrogates traditional narratives within heritage sites, commenting on cultural identity, politics, and language.
Alexis Stones, lecturer, researcher and subject lead for PGCE Religious Education at UCL; museum educator for young people and teachers at the National Gallery and the Wallace Collection.
Hassan Vawda, an AHRC Doctoral Researcher at Tate Modern and Goldsmiths, University of London. His research focuses on the framing of Islam and Muslims in British Modern and Contemporary art museums.

Exhibition Team:
Revd Georgia Ashwell, Curate of St John’s Waterloo
Fleur Dorrell, Biblical Apostolate Manager, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales
Euchar Gravina, Artistic Director, St John’s Waterloo
Laura Moffatt, Director, Art + Christianity

Exhibition venue and dates:  St John’s Church, Waterloo from 4th March 2025 to 27th April 2025.

Cloud of Witnesses is funded and supported by Art + Christianity; God who Speaks; St John’s Church, Waterloo; The Catholic Bishops’ Conference; Culham St Gabriel Trust and Bible Society.

We are now working with primary and secondary schools to create art and interfaith educational resources.

For more information, please contact Fleur Dorrell – fleur.dorrell@cbcew.org.uk

Digital Exhibition Catalogue