Elaine Almond, a long-time CSW supporter and Ambassador, has come up with a creative way to raise funds for CSW. She’s selling her vibrant, eye-catching paintings to help people who face injustice because of their faith. We are privileged to be able to introduce you to Elaine and her art.
Elaine says, ‘Art can help to lift us out of the mundane, open our eyes to what is around, not just the material world we inhabit, but the colours and experiences, be they physical, emotional, mental or spiritual: the life journeys we take.’
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a retired nurse and psychotherapist, an abstract artist and a part-time lay minister in a church in Kent.
What inspired your interest in art?
Art has been important to me since childhood. When I took early retirement in 2008 due to chronic illness, I enrolled on some courses and learnt to paint as a distraction and I just kept going! I have exhibited locally and nationally and in 2017 was shortlisted in the National Open Art Competition for ‘A Slice of Life 1’.
Why are you raising funds for CSW?
We heard about CSW via Rev Stuart Windsor in church around 1998 and started reading the magazine regularly and praying. In 2003, we had an opportunity to travel with CSW staff to Peru to visit prisoners and their families. I had worked in Peru previously and spoke Spanish. We learned from those who have suffered and how to pray. Our church was hooked and a prayer group came out of that and has continued since. The church started making regular donations to CSW. We have seen answers to prayer - for example, we heard how Pastor Nadarkhani was released from prison in Iran, and heard his testimony at a CSW conference. Last year, due to COVID-19 it was difficult for the church to meet to do fundraising, so I thought I would offer my paintings for sale to help people facing injustice for their faith, and to support a local hospice that I used to work for.
To view and purchase Elaine’s paintings, and support CSW’s work, visit elainealmondart.com/supportingcharity2021