FOUNDER of Wimborne Minster St Cuthburga is getting a lot of coverage this year and two artists have responded to 1,300 anniversary celebrations in their individual ways.

Alison Board needed the patience of the saint to fulfil her commission - The Cuthburga Illustration.

Nearly 18 months of research and work resulted in the full-length portrait of the 8th century Saxon missionary being handed over to the Minster at Sunday's parish communion service.

The saint is surrounded by a panoply of world and local events over the intervening centuries in non-fading pigments on hand-made paper.

Allison said: "Although it has been a labour of love it has also been a challenge.

"While I am a professional artist it has been an experiment to test my skills at illumination and calligraphy and working in gold and silver leaf."

Meanwhile, Minna Harvey has taken a vow to live like St Cuthburga for a year.

In fact, the whole congregation did the same to make the year special.

Part of the promise was to promote Christian unity and Minna decided her contribution would come in the form of a painting.

"This is my personal response to the vow," she said.

"It's a commemorative narrative showing Cuthburga enthroned in majesty."

A West Saxon princess who married Aldfrid, King of Northumbria, Cuthburga also managed to found a double monastery at Wimborne in 705 of which she became the first abbess, ruling the monastery through an iron grid.

The Minster forms the background of Minna's painting, which also features St Boniface who made his name by Christianising Germany. His first attempt was a flop and he called for help from Cuthburga's nuns.

Thekla - shown with a bunch of grapes - took vines from the Vineries in the Minster town to Ochsenfurt where she founded a convent, not to mention the German white wine industry.

Opposite her is St Lioba who, having converted Holy Roman Emperor Charle-magne's parents, is credited with converting the Franks.

The entire programme of the celebrations right through till November is available at the Minster for £1.

First published: May 27