[Philip Surey studies for a Welsh altar]

What a pleasure are handsome letters. These were painted by Philip Surey, a 1996 graduate of the City & Guilds of London Art School who later assisted Richard Kindersley and Ralph Beyer in their shops before going out on own as a sculptor and letter carver. Phil was planning the lettering for a new oak altar designed by Luke Hughes (shown in the final pic above) destined for Bangor Cathedral, Wales. The inscription by the poet Sion Aled is based on Psalm 78’s reference to the Israelites in the wilderness: “from the blue slate abundance flows to fill afresh our llannau's wells.” An uncommon example of Welsh lettering.