House Artwork: Illustration, Design, Symbolism (St Mark's Catholic School, Pakuranga)

This new artwork was commissioned to visually express the faith, identity, and values of St Mark’s Catholic School. Beyond just creating illustrations, this project was about telling stories and creating connection through illustration in a way that is meaningful and accessible to the whole school community.

1. The school brilliantly chose four places as house names that are significant in the life of Jesus Christ. And before work began, the initial consultation focused on strategy (i.e., design with purpose and meaning) using the classic What, Why, Who, and When. Exploring styles of illustration—which led to the chosen style—and outer template shape, which was inspired through a previous house artwork illustration project, which I had completed

2. Once the budget was approved, the project was taken in steps, with an initial site visit, then onto rough outlines to refined illustrations, and supplying final files, which took approximately 2-3 months.

• Note: The artwork was custom and progressed from hand-drawn to digital media. All illustrations are created by human hand. No AI was used to create the artwork. However, AI is used to generate mock-ups once the artwork is completed.

• The artwork was 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 font was matched to the existing school font.

• Additionally, the school crest was also re-illustrated to match the new house artwork.

• I worked with theologians and scripture scholars to ensure accuracy and truth throughout the process.

3. Each house illustration draws upon scripture and Catholic tradition, using carefully chosen symbols to tell a deeper story that students, staff, and caregivers can grow into and reflect upon throughout their time at school.

• Each house illustration incorporates three key symbols drawn directly from scripture and tradition, inviting students to explore the meaning behind the places of Bethlehem, Cana, Jordan, and Nazareth. Together, these artworks celebrate both the humanity and divinity of Christ while encouraging students to discover how God is present within their own journeys of learning, growth, service, and faith.

• A ray of light appears throughout every design, symbolising divine presence, joy, and transformation through the Holy Trinity. This visual element creates a shared connection between the houses and reflects the movement of God's grace throughout the story of hope in our lives today.

• While each house represents unique places and moments in the Gospel narratives, all four illustrations are united by common themes of God's loving presence, surprise, transformation, hope, and the mystery of the Incarnation—God dwelling among us (John 1:14). These themes remind us that Christ continues to be present and active in our lives today.

4. Furthermore, to create a unified visual identity, the illustrations share a consistent artistic style, level of detail, shading, layering, and composition, while the colours have been aligned with the school's established house colours. The school shield has also been refreshed to harmonise with the new illustration style, further strengthening the visual connection across the entire house system.

5. The final artworks were delivered in both full-colour and outline formats, making them flexible for a wide range of uses across the school. These can be used in various formats for print and online use, such as advertising, marketing, signage, uniforms, classroom resources, and more. View more details and options below.

I am deeply grateful for every project, and it was a priviledge to work together with the school to create the new artwork. We hope it spreads light, hope, and connection...

~ Jane

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>> Get in touch

If you’re interested in custom illustrations, strategy, and branding for schools, products, or organisations, then please send me a message. I would love to hear from you—let's talk...

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> Bethlehem: Place of Christ’s Birth (Luke 2:4-20, Matthew 2:1-12): Manger, Star, Baby Jesus/Feet

- Manger: Symbolising the place of how and where Jesus was born. In a humble organic place, full of the muck and truth in life. Not a glamorous place, but on our level, united with us—even in a crib of hay and wood.

- Star: The star of Bethlehem led the Wise Men to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. It symbolises how we must trust in divine guidance with hope. Even though we may not understand God’s ways, the call is to trust in God's bright providence.

- Baby Jesus: The baby’s feet are moving, joyfully breaking out of the blanket. Symbolising play, curiosity, and humanity. Symbolising how, at one stage, we all had baby feet; thus, Jesus also physically understands our joy, pain, and curiosity.

> Cana: Place of Christ’s First Miracle (John 2:1-11): Water Jars, Water and Wine, Rings

- Jars: Six stone water jars/jugs linking to scripture. Water jars were previously used for ritual cleansing and are linked to rigidity under the old law. As Jesus’ first miracle, this symbolises breaking away from rigidity and showing powerful divine transformation through the compassionate love of Christ.

- Water and Wine: The water symbolises the old law, while wine symbolises new life and joy. The movement in the illustrations links His first miracle alongside surprise, hope, and awe—nothing is impossible with a loving God, always moving in our lives.

- Rings: Linking the marriage in scripture, not only of the couple, but also unveiling the public unification of Jesus as united on earth and with heaven. This is eternal, far better than anything that came before, with divine love in abundance as ‘the best wine’.

> Jordan: Place of Christ’s Baptism (Matthew 3:13-17): Dove, Shell, Water.

- Dove: This symbolises the Holy Spirit—its loving presence at Jesus’ baptism, linked with scripture. Illustrating how the holy spirit’s divine, surprising, peaceful presence is also with us now.

- Shell: A traditional symbol of baptism. It has been used throughout history to pour baptismal waters. The shell symbol is also associated with St James and the Way… Baptism too is a ‘camino’, a journey, where we walk united.

- Water: Symbolises movement through baptism, washing over us, cleansing, uniting with Christ, nourishing, and growing in surprising new life.

> Nazareth: Place of Christ’s Childhood (Matthew 13:55-56, Luke 2:39-52, Luke 4:14-30): Tools, Scroll, Food.

- Tools: Symbolising how Jesus would have learned the trade of carpentry or stonework from his earthly father, Joseph. He would have worked with his hands, come to understand the value of hard work, and service. Just as we are called to work hard and serve in our studies and work.

- Scroll: Jesus attended synagogue regularly in Nazareth and beyond. The place of Nazareth also symbolises going down from Jerusalem to a lower earthly place, not above us—Christ is with us then and now. Calling us to humility, listening, and trust in divine providence. Even when later rejected in the synagogue (Luke 4:14:30).

- Food: Symbolising food from Nazareth that would be part of his childhood. Nourishment through nature, fruit harvested, olive oil pressed with love and labour, wheat harvested, bread, broken and shared with all. Reminding us to find nourishment and share this with others.

> School Shield

- The shield has also been updated to match the new illustration style as shown in the four houses.

- The font has been matched to the existing design.

- The ray of light has been added to symbolise divine presence, joy, and transformation through the Trinity. And link with the four houses.

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

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>> Get in touch

If you’re interested in custom illustrations, strategy, and branding for schools, products, or organisations, then please send me a message. I would love to hear from you—let's talk...