Among all the chocolate eggs, fluffy bunnies and face-painting, it can be easy to forget that Easter is a religious holiday, a time when Christians the world over pause to contemplate and give thanks for the sacrifice they believe Jesus Christ made on their behalf.

To this end, Northwood artist Jonathan Hutchins is displaying a set of 14 contemporary interpretations of Christ’s journey to the Cross, in All Saints’ Church in Harrow Weald. The bold works are based upon the Stations of the Cross traditionally used by Christians to reflect upon and tell the story of Christ’s death on the first Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter.

The pictures are being hung during Lent - the six weeks leading up to Easter during which Christians pray, repent and often fast.

Jonathan explains: “They are going up then so that you dwell on Christ’s death. In some churches you stop in front of each station and the priest will say a prayer in front of each one. The stations relate to the route in Jerusalem, which you can walk.”

Jonathan first began his painting project five years ago, and has produced two versions of the Stations, a project which effectively took over his life as an artist.

“I thought it would take me two or three years!” he laughs. “I work part-time so I was able to put in about 20 hours a week.”

The oil on canvas paintings each measure 24” by 18” and can be followed along one wall of the church, starting with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus and his disciples are said to have prayed the night before the crucifixion, to Jesus being laid in the tomb.

“I’m thinking of doing a larger, black and white version next,” muses Jonathan. “One of the reasons I want to do another one is that by the time you get to the last one of 14, you’ve learned so much so you want to go back and do them again!”

Jonathan’s Stations of the Cross will be on display in All Saints’ Church, Uxbridge Road, Harrow over Easter. Details: 020 8954 8865, www.jonathanhutchins.hostmyportfolio.com