Hednesford pop artist marks historic occasion by depicting Catholic theologian in stamps. Here is the story
A pop artist who uses stamps to create portraits of important historic figures has unveiled his latest work - an image of modern-day saint John Henry Newman.
John Henry Newman, a 19th century Catholic theologian who lived in the West Midlands for more than 40 years, has been depicted in stamps by retired schoolteacher Pete Mason from Hednesford.
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Mr Mason is well known for his portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II, also using stamps.
He decided to make Cardinal Newman the latest subject of his artwork after Pope Leo XIV declared him a Doctor of the Church.
He will formally be bestowed with the title during a mass in St Peter's Square, Rome, tomorrow (Saturday).
Newman will become only the third British person in history to be bestowed with the honour, following St Anselm of Canterbury who in 1720 and St Bede the Venerable in 1899. Cardinal Newman will also become the first Briton to have lived during the past 900 years to receive the title.
Born in Oxford in 1801, Newman initially became an Anglican priest, but later converted to Catholicism and moved to Birmingham in 1849, where he founded the Birmingham Oratory and spent the rest of his life, until his death in 1890.
Mr Mason said: "It is remarkable that he has received this honour, when you look at how far you have to go back to when it was given to someone else from Britain."
He began creating pictures out of used stamps more than 30 years ago.
"Art has been my life from school days," he said. "I am inspired by the Pop Art movement, particularly the works of Lichtenstein and Warhol."
