Apocalypse, if not now, is coming in the future. That’s the message Rickmansworth artist Jessica Rannachan is spelling out in her Book of Revelation Paintings exhibition at Watford Girls Grammar School this month.

Interestingly, the Greek origin of the word apocalypse is an unveiling or disclosure of truth, rather than the end of the world scenario we are more familiar with. Jessica’s works do not spare the hell-fire and damnation, however, she depicts bad times ahead, especially in the painting of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

“The horsemen don’t bring good things,“ warns Jessica. “A quarter of the world’s population will be wiped out.“ Jessica’s paintings encompass global catastrophes, demonic armies, Old Testament prophecies and angelic messengers. She tells me committing an image of the devil onto canvas has been particularly hard.

“It was probably the most difficult because it was Satan. I kept turning it round so nobody had to look at it too much,“ says Jessica. “But there is much worse to come including a 200-million strong demonic army let loose from hell. It’s not a happy message, but after that it gets better.“ So when will all this come to pass?

“The perspective I’m coming from is not that it has happened. This is the future, this is going to happen. My take on it is not spiritualised or esoteric, it’s much more plain.

“There’s a very interesting chapter that says there’s going to be a judgement on people who have polluted the earth, which could be interpreted as quite contemporary to us. The text also talks about Jesus coming back on a white horse to Israel, but Israel needed to be a nation for that to happen. So in 1948 the clock started ticking and prepared the stage for the prophecy.“

Largely self-taught, Jessica uses water based oil paint and also some polyurethane car paint and an air brush. Some of her more recent pictures use computer graphics. She has already dedicated ten years to the task. Some of the works have been on display before at Stanmore Library, the customer service centre at Watford Town Hall and most recently at Westminster City Hall. The grammar school show will feature 14 of the works with a larger show planned for the Harlequin this Easter.

“My goal is that when my husband retires in three and a half years, I will have completed all 22 chapters from beginning to end.

“This is what artists have always tried to do with the Bible, to bring it up to date. As I see it, I’m like a bricklayer building a house. I don’t think I’m actually good enough to do it, but I feel I have to. I’ve been given a mission and I’ve got to complete it.“

The exhibition is at The Visual Arts Centre, Watford Girls Grammar School, Lady’s Close, Watford from January 6-26. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday, 4pm to 8pm, except January 24