To prepare a piece of illuminated calligraphy or an illuminated manuscript, I first write out the calligraphy to see how much space the words will occupy, and work out from that how the writing should be arranged. Then I make rough sketches for the surround (the cartouche). Then I write the calligraphy again for the fair copy, and finally draw the design around it, first in pencil, then in ink, and finally I add colour.

Here you see my initial sketches for Psyche and Eros, and of course a heart, as this is about sustaining love. Shells stand for pilgrimage. Eros stands for falling in love, and Psyche stands for the soul.