Showcasing Elias Icons, the work of English Iconographer Ian Knowles

 and of the Arbor Vitae Icon Academy

I have a life-long passion for icons, as 'thin spaces' where God comes close to us in the Person of Jesus Christ. As a professional iconographer I attempt to offer my very best in artistic skill for the worship of God through making fine pieces of Liturgical art, and as a teacher of iconography to make this wonderful art of the Church accessible to as wide a range of people as possible. All of this is, for me, a form of evangelisation, of making God known.

On this website, you can find all sorts of information about icons, their history, their use in worship, and their spiritual power. You can see icons I have painted and order one for yourself. You can discover how to paint icons according to traditional techniques, and join a worldwide community of students going deeper into the Mystery that icon presents to us.

Whether you seek to learn a bit more, to purchase an icon, or just explore the living world of iconography, I hope this site gives you an enriching and blessed experience. Enjoy!

Ian Knowles

Ian is a practising Roman Catholic, a graduate of theology from Oxford University, has a diploma in Pastoral Theology from Heythrop College, spent a decade in Palestine where he founded the Bethlehem Icon School, and is the author of the Icon Painter's Handbook. He currently is living in Italy.

The Academy is a home for anyone who loves Byzantine icons, especially those inspired with iconography as a vocation to make good liturgical art.

An international community drawn together through the Academy Course in Icon Painting, members meet for regular lectures, tutorials, online and in-person courses, to share their work and generally to encourage each other.

Members come from across the Christian community, and from as far apart as the USA, Australia and South Africa.

Well Ian, I have been grateful for so many things over the last two and half years since starting the Academy course.

Thank you for

• Your generosity in sharing of yourself as well as your teaching
• for your no-nonsense and down to earth approach, which has afforded me the space to learn and develop by ‘having a go’ and then to keep going through supportive and robust critique of work.
• the challenge of the ‘self-directed’ study that it has required at times 
• above all, for your constant support in recognising how iconography might be a part my vocation and in the challenge of responding to that step by step.

Deo gratias!

Sr Rachel

The Academy is a home for anyone who loves Byzantine icon painting, especially those inspired by iconography as a vocation to make good liturgical art.

Members come from across the full breadth of the Christian community and beyond, and from as far apart as the USA, Australia and South Africa.

Sign up for one of the Academy Modules to join.

Or you can request to join one of the Tutor Groups which meet weekly.

Or enrol in one of the residential courses scheduled for July and November this year, and April 2026.

Or come for a sabbatical.

Or sign up for the Newsletter for notification of events.