Thetis Blacker (1927–2006)

Thetis Blacker was born in England and studied at the Chelsea School of Art. In 1970, as a Churchill Fellow, she visited Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India and Iran, and worked at the Batik Research Institute of Jogjakarta.

Her dyed paintings have been commissioned for and exhibited in cathedrals and churches in the UK, Europe and the USA. Five major series have been based on mythical themes: Apocalypse (St. Andrew's House); A Bestiary of Mythical Creatures; The Creation (Winchester Cathedral); Search for the Simurgh and Arbor Cosmica.

Recent commissions include work for St. George's Chapel, Windsor where a major exhibition of her work was held in 2000; work for St. Alban's Abbey; a Phoenix for the dining hall of Grey College, University of Durham, 2000; banners of St. Cuthbert and St. Oswald for the referetory in Durham Cathedral 2001.

Thetis also has four major works in Grey College Chapel - The Creation of Darkness and Light, Imago Lucis and Imago Aquarium, dedicated in October 2000, and the Pentecost banner dedicated in 2002

In June 2002, Thetis Blacker was awarded an Honary Doctorate by Durham University.