A specially commissioned piece of contemporary art inspired by one of England's greatest medieval chapels is to be unveiled at a church in Warwick this October.

'The Light of Salvation' has been designed by local artist Katie Jones to mark the 550th anniversary of the consecration of the Beauchamp Chapel - one of the jewels in the crown at St Mary's, which itself is one of Britain's largest parish churches.

Commissioned by the church and funded by the historic Foxley Charity, the one-of-a-kind artwork has been created to complement the chapel's unique heritage while offering visitors a fresh interpretation of its themes of faith, hope and salvation. Some 4.2m long, it will be displayed at the sanctuary rail before the chapel's altar.

The design draws inspiration from the spectacular stained glass that sits in the chapel's east window, with rays of light symbolising God's love and guidance. Rich blues and reds echo the colours of the medieval glass, while intricate foliage incorporates the iconic bear and ragged staff emblems associated with the Beauchamp family and the Earls of Warwick.

The result is a striking contemporary piece of art that is a fitting addition to the medieval splendour of the chapel at St Mary's Collegiate Church.

The artwork will be officially unveiled at a special launch event at St Mary's on Thursday 8 October at 5pm, attended by specially invited guests including local dignitaries and representatives of Warwickshire's heritage and cultural sectors. It will then be on public display from Friday 9 October.

Designed by young Warwick artist Katie Jones, 25, the commission forms part of St Mary's ongoing work within the community and will enhance the visitor experience at one of Warwick's most treasured landmarks. It follows the successful restoration and reopening of the church's iconic tower and reflects the ambition to continue investing in both the heritage and future of St Mary's.

Katie, who has worked with the church on previous projects said the project was unlike anything she had worked on.

"In my normal day-to-day as a graphic designer, I do a lot of branding work involving logos, typography and colour, whereas this was very illustrative and pattern based. It felt very different," she said.

The whole process, which took around six months from an initial meeting to her final design being approved, involved Katie taking the initial brief and working out how to incorporate within the commission the unique, symbolic surroundings of the Beauchamp Chapel, and express them through her design.

"I wanted to bring in the colours, but also use imagery. From the start I wanted light to be an important part of it because it's so important not only in the chapel but on a broader, more symbolic and spiritual level. The St Mary's team and I worked closely together on ideas that related to the chapel's story alongside symbolism and design, until I came up with something that brought it all together.

"I feel really lucky that St Mary's trusted me with the project. It's an amazing feeling and a privilege to know that for years to come someone will look at the work I've done, and see it as part of the heritage of St Mary's."

The Beauchamp Chapel, built between 1441 and 1455 to house the magnificent tomb of Richard Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, is widely regarded as the finest medieval chantry chapel in England. It is also the final resting place of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, cementing its place at the heart of England's history.

Tim Clark, historian at St Mary's, said: "By combining contemporary design with the medieval iconography of the Beauchamp Chapel, 'The Light of Salvation' aims not only to enrich the experience of those who come to worship at St Mary's but also adds another attraction for the thousands of visitors who come to St Mary's and Warwick each year.

"We were keen to use a local artist for this unique project and were delighted when Katie agreed to take it on. She's brought our vision to life and created something that is not only visually striking, but spiritual and in keeping with the history of its surroundings."

The artwork has been generously funded by the Foxley Charity, a trust established in 1673 by Lady Katherine Leveson, Robert Dudley's granddaughter. More than 350 years later, the charity continues to support the care and enhancement of the Beauchamp Chapel, with this latest commission creating a new chapter in its remarkable story.