Four Houses, Four Stories: A house artwork illustration project

Recently I have had the privilege of completing a very special illustration project for St Columba’s Catholic Primary School in Hamilton, New Zealand. This project involved creating four custom illustrations to represent the school’s newly chosen house groups. This was a process shaped by the school community and grounded in faith, history, and values. Each house is named after an inspiring, relatable figure whose life reflects faith, service, and courage:

• Saint Carlo Acutis

• Suzanne Aubert

• Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier

• Euphrasie Barbier

Visual Storytelling with Purpose

This project was about more than creating illustrations. It was about telling stories through illustration in a way that is meaningful, plus accessible to children and the entire school community.

Before work began, we explored the purpose for the designs, through the classic What, Why, Who, and When of design. The style of illustration was explored before illustration work began, which led to the chosen style—based on a previous illustration project I had completed.

Once the budget was approved, the project was taken in steps, from rough outlines, choosing house colours, to refined illustrations, over approximately two months. The artwork was custom and progressed from hand-drawn to digital media. Sketched, coloured, and created to work across various media and to match the needs of school life (e.g. small, large, print, signage, clothing, and online).

The outer shape for each Illustration was designed within a crest-style format, which links with the outer shape of the school logo. Thus, remaining visually connected as a set, while also being able to adapt details within—giving each house a strong identity.

The final artworks were delivered in both full-colour and outline formats, making them flexible for a wide range of uses across the school. Some PowerPoint slides and social media use are being in the process of being developed. Some print options are shown below.

Importantly, symbolism plays a crucial role in each illustration, alongside following the brief, which called for youthful joy. Thus, aiming to suit the audience, link symbols with scripture, and honour the life of the person it represents:

• Saint Carlo Acutis reflects hope, trust, eucharist, and faith lived through modern technology.

  - Elements include: The eucharist, a monstrance, IHS, wheat grains, a laptop computer, rosary beads, and open hands to symbolise embrace, invitation, and listening to God’s call.

• Suzanne Aubert showcases symbols of care, healing, compassion, medicine, generosity of heart, relationship with Māori, and her Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) history.

  - Elements include: Aotearoa NZ native fern, compassion icon with heart, koru, and cross (ties to the congregation she founded), congregational symbol/necklace, pikorua greenstone (relationships), a medicine bottle (her Karana tonic), kete weaving, open giving hands.

• Bishop Pompallier represents leadership, journey, courage, and the foundations of faith in Aotearoa NZ.

  - Elements include: Elements from his crest, bible, crosses, medals he wore, unfolding fiddleheads (young fronds of ferns) symbolising coming together of peoples, hope, waves, stars (southern cross), upright shoulders symbolising standing up for religious freedom (Te Tiriti fourth article), and open welcoming body position.

• Euphrasie Barbier represents her embodiment of education, devotion, companionship, courage, and generosity throughout the world, linking to the congregation she founded.

  - Elements include: RNDM Rule/Book, crucifix, items from the RNDM Aotearoa NZ province logo (mangōpare coming together with, listening, through courage, faith, and pacific), globe, movement of colour, open book illustrating education, hope, sharing, and companionship.

Designed for School Life in Collaboration

In summary, house systems are about more than colour and competition; they are about shared values and collective story. Therefore, our hope is that these illustrations help students and the community to not only recognise their house, but also become curious about the people behind the names and the values they embodied. Where, through collaboration, this visual media can continue to foster a sense of belonging and shared values among all.

I’m grateful to St Columba’s for their trust and thoughtful collaboration throughout this project, in particular, Jolan Search. And to those who supported us with theological guidance and congregational feedback. It was an honour to contribute to a visual language that reflects faith in action and supports this amazing school community.

This project is a reminder of how visual art can quietly shape culture — offering the community images that affirm courage, faith, goodness, joy, and hopeful possibilities....

~ Jane

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Reminder: This artwork is original, and the copyright is now owned by the school. Do not copy or reproduce the artwork in any way without express written consent.

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If you’re interested in custom illustration work for schools, communities, or organisations, then send me a message—it would be wonderful to hear from you...