This is a little watercolour I completed recently... the image was inspired by my recent pilgrimage to Lourdes...

... it was hot and there were a lot of pilgrims visiting Lourdes... I wandered along to have a look at the Grotto and a Mass was taking place, so I watched at a distance, from the river, making a little sketch... As the Priest started to celebrate the Mass, the beautiful prayers started to change the atmosphere and bring that sense of Heaven and God to the Grotto once more and an image came to mind - Our Lady, saying she was the Immaculate Conception, with light shining around her.

I made a quick little sketch of the way I imagined Our Lady, talking to Saint Bernadette ... 

... and I have painted a more complete watercolour now entitled "Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us"... I hope the image can help with some fundraising for our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes... Lourdes is wonderful... maybe I can return one day? ... I shall leave it up to Our Lady.