Homecoming
Mists and Wanderers (2022)
The places that inspire me are more often than not wild paces, edgelands and overlooked areas where nature reigns. Sometimes the reality is these places can be very highly managed. The Avalon Marshes on the Somerset Levels (UK) is such a place. The area has a long history having been occupied since neolithic times. The 20th century peat extraction completely changed the landscape and when that industry declined some of the extraction sites were turned into nature reserves. They are a strange watery world especially in the winter months. Here are blind ending channels and waterways edged with golden reeds and everywhere is the sound of birds.
Alchemy (2022)
This is the winter roosting ground for thousands and thousands of starlings. On winters evenings they arrive at dusk in huge numbers swirling and dancing…especially if there are birds of prey about. They finally swoop down into the reed beds and cling 4 or 5 birds to a reed chattering noisily. Then, suddenly they are all silent. Until in the dawn that is when they all leave in a noisy woosh of chatter and wings.
In the winter of 2021/22, I was luckily enough to spend many dusks in this mythical magical place beneath Glastonbury Tor. It was emotional time for me I sought to reconnected with my own home after many years of renting out my cottage and travelling. The paintings I made at this time were for a solo show called ‘Homecoming’ at the beautiful Clifton Contemporary Gallery in Bristol.
Celestial (2022)
For that show my partner Mike Hipwell composed a piece of music to play in the gallery during the show (lucky me I know!) He skillfully and sensitively incorporated the sounds of the marshes; the early morning owls, the water fowl, the clanking wind powered water pump and of course the daily arrival and departure of the starlings. His music is called Matins, Evensong. It was a wonderful experience last night to hear it playing in the Corpus Christi Chapel at Wells Cathedral as part of the Wells Art Contemporary 2023. Many congratulations to Mike and all taking part in this fantastic exhibition. It’s on until 2nd September 2023, highly recommended!
Here is a little of Mike’s music more at www.mikehipwell.co.uk
The Avalon wetlands continue to inspire me and I’m looking forward to the return of the starlings and spending more evenings at their watery winter home.
If you would like to read more about what’s inspiring me, see my latest work, exhibitions and studio sales please sign up to my exclusive monthly newsletter here