Meet UK-based Artist Jenny McLaughlin

Jenny McLaughlin is a painter and children’s book illustrator based in northwestern England. She has done commission work for magazines, churches, and web design clients. She was featured as a faith artist on BBC One. You can find her work here, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

CATHOLIC ARTIST CONNECTION: How do understand your vocation as a Catholic artist? Do you call yourself a Catholic artist?

JENNY MCLAUGHLIN: My aim is for my Catholic artwork to inspire the viewer, helping them to focus on God and feel the peace and love of God as they go through life’s challenges.

Where have you found support in the Church for your vocation as an artist?

From God. I believe the source of my creativity is God and without Him, I wouldn’t have my artistic abilities, encouragement, or my inspiration. I feel that He inspires people I encounter in Church and outside Church to encourage me on my path. I also love the encouragement different Popes have expressed for Catholic Artists. I see Catholic art as a channel through which God can communicate with people, encouraging and inspiring them. In my local parish, we have three very hard working priests and I am very grateful for a sacred art commission I was given by our parish priest last year. I have been encouraged in my vocation as an artist by many of our parishioners, one whom I met through a local art club which she runs; she has been a wonderful encouragement in my vocation as a Catholic artist. I am very grateful for all the support and encouragement I have received from everyone.

“Take and eat; this is my body.”

Where in your city do you regularly find spiritual fulfillment?

I find spiritual fulfillment through attending Mass. I find it very sacred, beautiful, and fulfilling; the spiritual light, the beauty, also, the feeling of peace, love and calm in my soul, on receiving the Holy Eucharist. I also like to attend eucharistic adoration at Church, in person when I am able to, or to just sit with Jesus in a quiet church. He is always there and He loves us all so much. After Mass, it is lovely to have a chat with fellow parishioners over a biscuit and a brew. We have also had some lovely activities planned by our parish.

Where in your city do you regularly find artistic fulfillment?

For inspiration, I pray. I also love to watch the clouds in the sky. They have so many varied shapes and colors. Sometimes it is like light glows through them and when the sky is perfect, I like to think it gives us a tiny glimpse of Heaven. I always want to paint more and more paintings which feature clouds and the sky. I love the murmuration of starlings, the power of the sea, a fresh layer of snow on the ground, I love the way the leaves in the trees appear to sparkle in the breeze in the summer and I like the sound they make. It all helps to inspire my art, alongside my religious practices.

What is your daily spiritual practice?

At home, first thing in the morning with my prayers and Bible readings. I like to watch Eucharistic Adoration live on YouTube. I like to pray the three Hail Mary chaplet during a busy day, when those inevitable challenges of life come along. At bedtime, I like to really slow down, focus on God, having a good chat about everything that's been happening, asking for guidance, trying to really quiet my mind so I can focus on Him, then I like to pray the Rosary. I have been on a few pilgrimages, personal ones and with our church; the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, The Holy Well at St Winefride’s in Wales, Ladyewell Shrine and we had a very special event in autumn 2022: the relics of Saint Bernadette were at Lancaster Cathedral. Our parish organized a coach trip. It was very holy and very sacred!!! It was amazing.

What is your daily artistic practice?

I would recommend praying and really focussing on sitting with God, or to pray and ask Mary, or a saint to be with us. I find this can help the artist access their creative side and inspire them. Inspiration comes in many ways: perhaps the way the sun shines on some water, or some amazing architecture, or a dog playing with a toy, etc. Whatever inspires the artist is a great way to start and to try to do some sketches, just for fun. I find trying to sketch something usually takes me three attempts to start to get my artistic side working. I usually like to sketch with pencil and watercolor. Once I am working on a big, serious drawing or painting, I find I can easily see it too often, so I might need to use a mirror to look at the piece of work from time to time, to help me spot areas that need help. I like to pray as I work or listen to uplifting music and take a break to stretch a bit.

Describe a recent day in which you were most completely living out your vocation as an artist.

Recently, I was working on my painting, "Take and eat; this is my body."—my most recent painting of Jesus. I just couldn’t get the Lord’s face right! It looked like someone but it didn’t feel like “God,” if that makes sense. I kept praying about it, feeling most frustrated and eventually I had an idea—Who would have seen Jesus more than anyone and have known what He looked like? Our mother Mary, of course! So, I asked Mama Mary to help me with my artwork and with her help, I finally felt happy with my painting. I think that feeling close to God when I work on my artwork is an experience I treasure and being with God, our mother Mary, the angels, and the saints when I paint brings me the most joy.