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The Significance of Circles

September 2014

Whereas ancient art from the rest of the world is mostly representational, featuring animals and people, up until the Roman conquest, the majority of British art is abstract - centring around geometric patterns, circles, dots and lines.

In ancient British rock art the "cup and ring" (circles surrounding a central dot) formations dominate. There is a proven link between these and the stone circles that are scattered across the land during the Neolithic and early bronze age, whether or not these two types of circle are intended to represent the same thing.

Although the meaning of the patterns of ancient British rock art remains a mystery, there is obviously something significant to us about circles. They are appealing to us, simple yet mysterious, mystical yet mathematical, and indicative of human presence; conjuring up images of settlements and community.

I enjoy continuing this heritage of British abstract art that extends into prehistory by embracing the usage of circles, lines and dots.

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