Michael Cullimore often uses themes of universal significance from classical myth or literature such as Leda, Prospero, Orpheus and Eurydice, or, as in this work, a biblical story. The artist has put together 16 studies in one frame that give us stages of Jonah’s experience – the agonies of being swallowed, digested and regurgitated alive by the sea monster. The focus of Cullimore’s art is moments of change, transformation, birth, decay and death. His work draws on the visionary examples of William Blake, David Jones and Paul Nash, and in this sequence there is also something of Sidney Nolan’s use of paint. After National Service, Cullimore studied art at Swindon College and Goldsmith’s College. He worked as a foundry labourer before moving to North Wales where he taught and became curator of an art gallery in Bangor.