A Bond of Roses, and a Ring of Fire

By James Platt

James Platt’s A Bond of Roses, and a Ring of Fire is a four-colour lino print from a broader body of work shaped by his childhood encounters with medieval churches in England. Growing up singing in chapel choirs, Platt was immersed in the rituals, architecture, and music of these spaces. While the theology itself never resonated, the visual and sonic beauty of medieval cathedrals left a lasting impression.

Drawing on these early experiences, Platt’s practice seeks to echo the formal language of stained glass: restrained palettes, jewel-like colours, and bold, en- closing outlines. Figures and motifs are lifted from religious and medieval iconography, then reworked and transformed through printmaking into something at once reverent and personal. The title, A Bond of Roses, and a Ring of Fire, is taken from a favourite hymn from his youth, grounding the work in memory and song while reframing sacred imagery through a contemporary lens.

A Bond of Roses, and a Ring of Fire by James Platt