The Celtic peoples of ancient Europe relied on the earth and the constant cycles of Mother Nature for their survival. Any variation in the hoped for pattern could prove disastrous. It comes as no surprise, then, that earth worship and fertility symbolism formed a large part of their religious beliefs. The female deities, or Mother Goddesses, as they have become known, are mostly associated with the cycles of reproduction, prosperity and fruitfulness.
Water, as it emerges from the earth as a stream or a well, is seen as a gift from Mother Earth herself, a powerful symbol of both purity and the continuance of life. Water forms the starting point for my figure, her fertility can be seen in the swell of her pregnant belly, and in the strong, vibrant growth of the tree of life generated from her hair. She is at one with the natural world, both creation and creator, the personification of the cyclical nature of existence.