About Madeleine Stewart
Conard Icons is Madeleine Stewart’s website.
Madeleine has been painting icons for over twenty years. She has recently completed two large panel icons for St Mary’s Catholic Church in Portglenone; The Mother of God Enthroned and The Pantocrator Enthroned (see images below). The icons are taken from Panselinos’ mural in Mt Athos.
Madeleine was born in Belfast where she went to school and University. Subsequently she lived, worked, and studied in London, Bedford and Leicester. She worked as a Strategic Designer with private planning consultancies, most memorably with, Phillips Planning Services in Bedford. On her return to Northern Ireland she worked as an Architect, designing individual houses for private clients.
When her eldest son was diagnosed with a brain tumour, she gave up her architectural practice to be able to support her son and his family. When she returned home after her son’s death in 2014, she decided that she wanted to spend her painting icons. (She had been painting icons as a ‘hobby’ since 1998.)
When her eldest son was diagnosed with a brain tumour, she gave up her architectural practice to be able to support her son and his family. When she returned home after her son’s death in 2014, she decided that she wanted to spend her painting icons. (She had been painting icons as a ‘hobby’ since 1998.)
Also in 1998 she had her first children’s book published; ‘Peg’ by Maddie Stewart. Four more children’s books followed. She now tutors ‘Writing for Children’ and takes great pleasure in facilitating a writer’s group at her home in Coney Island, Co Down.
In her role as an Author of Children’s books, Madeleine gives writing workshops in schools and can be found on Poetry Ireland’s approved list of writers for their ‘Writers in Schools’ project. |
Madeleine’s interest in iconography is not limited to painting technique. She has been attracted to understand the particular language of iconography since her introduction to the sacred art at Turvey Abbey in Bedfordshire.
Through her interest and knowledge of iconography, Madeleine has been asked to give talks and to host workshops and retreats. Generally, this is a work she loves but when she was asked to give a talk on The San Damiano Cross, an icon she knew nothing about, she wasn’t enthusiastic. However, she decided to do some homework and agreed to give the talk. This was the start of a journey which culminated in the publication of her book, ’The San Damiano Cross, An Icon of the Crucifixion,’ Conard Press, November 2019.
Madeleine continues to paint icons, to give talks, days and week-ends on individual icons, The San Damiano Crucifix, and on the Theology and Symbolism of Iconography in the Byzantine Tradition. Her book is referenced as a primary source of information on the imagery of the crucifix on the website of Santa Chiara, where the original crucifix is kept. The book is listed under ‘Conard Press’ in this website.
If you were to ask her which aspect of her life was most important to her and had given her the most joy; she would reply ‘being a mum.’ She had three sons and treasures her two grandsons. (She is also rather fond of her daughters-in-law!). However at the root of all is her faith in God and her trust in His love.
Through her interest and knowledge of iconography, Madeleine has been asked to give talks and to host workshops and retreats. Generally, this is a work she loves but when she was asked to give a talk on The San Damiano Cross, an icon she knew nothing about, she wasn’t enthusiastic. However, she decided to do some homework and agreed to give the talk. This was the start of a journey which culminated in the publication of her book, ’The San Damiano Cross, An Icon of the Crucifixion,’ Conard Press, November 2019.
Madeleine continues to paint icons, to give talks, days and week-ends on individual icons, The San Damiano Crucifix, and on the Theology and Symbolism of Iconography in the Byzantine Tradition. Her book is referenced as a primary source of information on the imagery of the crucifix on the website of Santa Chiara, where the original crucifix is kept. The book is listed under ‘Conard Press’ in this website.
If you were to ask her which aspect of her life was most important to her and had given her the most joy; she would reply ‘being a mum.’ She had three sons and treasures her two grandsons. (She is also rather fond of her daughters-in-law!). However at the root of all is her faith in God and her trust in His love.