A FRESH, illustrated Bible hopes to transform the way that children comprehend the Christian scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. The Life of Jesus Through the Eyes of an Artist, is designed for children between 7 and 11, and looks at the events surrounding the life of Jesus in an innovative and inventive manner. Due to be published by the Bible Reading Fellowship in July, it is the product of the work of the artist Paul Forsey and the culmination of a lengthy and unlikely personal journey.

Forsey, who is 39, was originally asked by the Oxford Diocese of the Church of England to paint four Advent scenes for use in schools and then, in conjunction with the Bible Reading Fellowship, to take on the far larger project of illustrating all the major events in the life of Jesus. The experience was to change his own religious beliefs.

He trained in fine arts at Reading University and has exhibited regularly, working from home until some two years ago when he secured a studio at the former US Air Force base at Greenham Common. His work is in the Arthur Andersen Art Collection, the Gyosei International College in Reading and the Strand headquarters of Enterprise Oil. He is a past winner of the Farnham Open competition.

All those works are abstracts, in contrast to the clearly delineated individuals that accompany passages drawn from the Contemporary English Version of the Bible. Forsey says that some eight years before the commission he had been agnostic in his views, but a friend suggested that he use the Bible as a source for material. The resulting work was exhibited in Douai Abbey, Sheffield Cathedral, York and elsewhere. Gradually, through reading the Bible for the project, and understanding the New Testament events in their context, his Christianity evolved.

He was initially asked to produce 14 illustrations, but the commission was later increased to 22. He actually created 32 scenes, all of A3 size, and 24 are included in the exhibition. Two other scenes — Jesus praying and the death of Judas — were consider inappropriate by the publisher.

Before this work, Forsey had been working on paintings that had, in a sense, rediscovered illuminated manuscripts and how the masters who created them had approached their subject. The storytelling is direct, the picture plane is flat and the colours are strong with a major use of gold.

After reading the texts and researching the gospel messages, the artist created rough drawings. Each character was sketched independently and then scanned on to a computer. Forsey then “tweaked” the drawings to scale the figures appropriately to the scene. From the line drawings, he then made a print to which he applied gouache.

The work took two years and is in four sections. Infancy covers such scenes as the Annunciation, birth of Jesus, the presentation in the temple and the slaughter of the innocents. His Ministry depicts such subjects as the temptations of Jesus, calling the disciples, calming the storm, the Transfiguration and entry into Jerusalem. The Passion embraces washing the feet of the disciples, the Last Supper, the arrest of Jesus, trial and Crucifixion. The Glory shows the Resurrection, Jesus appearing to Thomas and Pentecost.

With financial support from the Oxford Diocese, The Life of Jesus Through the Eyes of an Artist has an initial print run of 3,000. Each of the 22 illustrations covers a double-page spread in full colour. The Bible passages have been selected by Jo Fageant, the Oxford diocesan adviser for religious education and formerly an adviser to Berkshire and a secondary school teacher on the subject. The Bible text has been taken with no interpretation or retelling, despite the young target audience.

The book is accompanied by a teacher’s guide for Key Stage 2, designed to draw out the significance and symbolism of the story, alongside the artist’s own interpretation. Written by Fageant and David Barton, it aims to encourage open responses to help pupils to learn from and about religion in the context of the life of Jesus. The original artwork stays with Paul Forsey, who has not yet decided where it should be permanently housed.

Before publication, the illustrations are to be exhibited on a national tour, entitled Step into the Picture. Until April 14 they are on view in the Chapter House, York Minster; at Sheffield Roman Catholic Cathedral from May 4 to 29; Lincoln Cathedral from June 2 to July 29; and Wells Cathedral from August 2 to 16.

The Life of Jesus, priced £12.99, accompanied by a teacher’s guide at £8.99, will be published in July by the Bible Reading Fellowship (01865 319700).