Orthodox Iconographer Henry Shirley

Our Lady of Walsingham Holyrood Studio
Byzantine Iconography
by the hand of
Henry Shirley

Henry first encountered icons as a teenager on a visit to the historic Russian mission church at Fort Ross, California. As a medieval history major in college, he was fascinated with photos of Byzantine mosaics such as those in Ravenna, Italy. He grew up in the Southern Baptist Church and later spent a number of years in the Episcopal Church, before converting to Orthodoxy in 1988. In 1993, he was persuaded by his friend, Khouria Martha Lynch, to come with her to a workshop with Master Iconographer Philip Zimmerman in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Henry has since participated in five more workshops with Phil Zimmerman, and has continued to paint as time allowed.

Due to family and parish commitments and a full-time job, Henry is only able to devote a small amount of time to painting (Sunday afternoons), but he strives to be faithful to that time, and has so far completed fifteen icons. He considers himself a novice iconographer whose painting is a serious vocation, an important aspect of his spiritual life. (He becomes impatient with well-meaning friends who compliment him on having a "relaxing hobby.")

Henry and his family are members of the Orthodox Church in America mission station in West Bend, Wisconsin, where he serves as subdeacon.

Henry Shirley
2343 North 73rd Street
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53213

Icons by Henry Shirley
Our Lady of Walsingham
St. George
St. John the Forerunner
Archangel Michael (full standing)
St. Patrick
Theotokos Korsunskaya
Theotokos of the Sign
Christ Pantocrator

Copyright Info. How to Order Home Icons for Viewing & Purchase Other Iconographers