Sacred Spot Series - Love Bug

Acrylic, spray paint, gold leaf, gesso and spot varnish on birch wood cradled panel, 20x20x3cm (8x8x1 inches).
Love Bug is part of my Sacred Spots series, a collection inspired by the idea that the familiar spots of a ladybird can become symbols carrying different meanings. By replacing the insect’s natural markings with meaningful shapes, each piece becomes a tiny contemporary icon exploring a different aspect of the human experience.
In this piece, the traditional spots have been transformed into hearts, symbolising love, compassion, connection, and the marks that affection leaves upon us throughout our lives. The ladybird’s black body introduces a subtle tension, suggesting that love is not only joyful but can also involve vulnerability and transformation.
The gold leaf circle behind the insect functions as both halo and celestial body, elevating this humble creature into the realm of the sacred. Above it, a burning heart drawn from religious iconography represents enduring devotion and love that persists through challenge and change.
Like much of my work, Love Bug explores the meeting point between the sacred and the everyday, inviting us to find wonder, meaning, and small acts of devotion hidden within the natural world.