Welcome to the website for the British Association of Iconographers. We hope that this website will enable you to learn about iconography and also to provide you with information about the courses offered and events planned by the Association.
In recent years, many Western Christians have begun to discover 
the Eastern practice of using icons as an aid to reflection and prayer—and have consequently learned much about the theology behind them and the liturgies in which they are traditionally used.
The aims of the BAI
The British Association of Iconographers exists to deepen the knowledge and inner understanding of icons and the spirituality associated with them, whilst establishing contact with all iconographers – learners, beginners and those with a great proficiency throughout the world.
Icon painting
Icon painting is a meditative, prayerful painting of an image that aims to depict the true inner likeness of Christ, Mary or the saints. Icons express the future unity of the whole of creation and are a visible manifestation of humankind’s spiritual power to redeem creation through beauty and art. By painting an icon we seek to express the Divine nature with which Christ is endowed and the inner spiritual reality which animates the saints.
The banner image (above) shows some of the icons in Winchester Cathedral, England. See the following link for more about them:
Winchester Cathedral Icons
Further contact information can be found on the Contact page of this website. For general enquiries about the BAI please use the following e-mail address: info@bai.org.uk
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The Association held an exhibition of members’ work in Liverpool in September 2023.
www.bai.org.uk/exhibition-2023/
A gallery of images from the Liverpool Exhibition can be found at:
www.bai.org.uk/liverpool-exhibition-image-gallery/
An Icon Painting Course was held at All Saints’ Church, Turvey, Bedford in September 2024
www.bai.org.uk/icon-painting-at-all-saints-church-turvey-bedford/
During the autumn of 2021 the BAI held an on-line exhibition of members’ icons.
The 2021 exhibition can still be viewed at:
www.exhibition.bai.org.uk
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Please see the Courses pages for iconography courses held during 2025
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