The work of a talented teenage painter has been unveiled in a town church after an 18-month commission.
Seraphina Kopliku,18, was commissioned to produce an oil painting of St Augustine of Canterbury for St Mary’s and St Augustine’s Church, in Stamford.
Seraphina with Canon Peter Vellacott who commissioned the painting. Photo: David Lowndes
The stunning painting took her around 18 months to complete and was unveiled on Sunday at the Broad Street church where it will go on permanent display.
Seraphina lives in Welby, near Grantham, but has been part of the congregation at the Stamford church for five years and an alto in its choir for four.
Canon Peter Vellacott commissioned Seraphina to create the 90cm x 60cm oil painting of the sixth Century saint after spotting her talent during the presentation of another work in the church hall.
Seraphina’s biggest commission to date took her 18 months to complete
Despite bearing St Augustine’s name, the church had never possessed a painting of its patron saint.
“Canon Peter approached me to paint St Augustine for the church,” Seraphina recalled.
“He requested it be produced in an Eastern Orthodox iconography style, something I was very unfamiliar with, and a style not commonly done at all with oil paint.”
She had to learn an entirely new painting technique when embarking on the work
The young artist worked on the project while completing her college studies in graphic design, researching both the saint and the demanding painting technique required.
Showing painstaking attention to detail, she even met with local experts to try and master the technique, while working on the painting in a converted summer house studio at home.
Augustine was sent over from Rome by Pope Gregory The Great with 40 missionaries to evangelise England, landing in Kent in 597.
The stunning work will go on permanent display in St Mary and St Augustine’s
“The book in his hand is symbolic of his influence in the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons,” Seraphina explained.
“He taught and evangelised the Christian faith in England.”
Having painted all her life, Seraphina started a small art business aged 13 during the 2020 lockdown, selling digital prints, and taking some private commissions.
Seraphina’s painting was unveiled in the church hall before its installation in St Mary and St Augustine’s Church. Photo: David Lowndes
The St Augustine commission is her largest and most significant work, yet despite her artistic talents, her interests extend beyond the canvas.
Having just finished her college studies, she plans to pursue law next year, driven by a growing passion for politics and legal studies.