Our Lady, Lighthouse and Cairn This painting draws together memories of the Hebridean crossings between Benbecula and North Uist, reflections from the Divine Office, and the writings of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. In the image of Our Lady as both lighthouse and cairn, I wanted to explore guidance, trust, danger, and hope in Christ amid darkness and uncertainty. North Ford, Benbecula c. 1880s Source The Hebridean Crossing The painting began with stories told to me by my mother-in-law, Belle MacPhee of Benbecula in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. As a young girl, she crossed the ford between Benbecula and North Uist long before a causeway existed. The journey depended entirely on the rhythm of the tide and could only be attempted when the water was low enough. Even then, it required local knowledge, patience, and courage. People crossing the ford travelled mainly by horse and cart across a landscape both beautiful and exposed, where sea, sand, and sky could seem to merge into one another. The...