Philip D. Noble

I' m married to Rosalind and we have four grown up children.

I've been interested in the visual presentation of simply distorted objects such as string loops, paper or rope, as a means by which stories can be exchanged and enhanced. Haiku poetry also figures highly in my interests along with icon painting and the making giant soap bubbles.


I have spent most of my life based in Scotland as minister of a local congregation as rector/ evangelist. It was during my three years, living as a mission priest in Papua New Guinea in the early 1970's that I gained a love for both stories and string figures.

I have worked in many situations and countries as a performer and Workshop leader for the visual arts in worship and outreach.
I believe that parables and stories, from the Bible and many other sources can have a powerful way of touching people's hearts and bringing about change. My style has been described as that of an "Itinerant Gladness Scatterer"!

I have written about such subjects in several books among them, 'Why Don't You String Figures' ( BBC 1976); 'Fool of the Kingdom' ( Meriwether 1996) and 'A Dictionary of Saints' (Watkins 2007). and I completed a D. Min.in Post-modern Discipleship: story, journey and encounter with Fuller Seminary in 2005.
At present I am involved in a project with an TV advertising company in Spain as 'string figure consultant' preparing string figures for a car commercial due for release in 2008.
My hope and joy is to awaken and release in others the delightful simplicity of God's creation.

website: www.stninians.net
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZB7MFM0HDWg