Artist in residence

The domain of painters?

I have always thought that an Artist in Residence was the domain of painters, sculptors or maybe, writers. I never imagined that I would be offered a residency, yet, last week that is exactly what I found myself doing.

Since leaving art school back in 2000, I don’t think I have ever had the time and space to simply concentrate on my creative practise with no distractions or obligations. The mental breathing space away from everyday concerns is a gift I didn’t even know I needed. It took me a few days to get out of the habit of trying to structure everything to make the most of it. Allowing myself time to day dream has brought new ideas and new directions for me to explore into the new year.

The photos included in this blog are from my week at Mawgan Porth, from the stormy skies to the smallest of details, it will feed into my work and inform my practise over the coming months.

What is an artist in residence?

An artist residency is an opportunity provided by a host organisation that enables a guest artist to work in a new environment, often away from the restrictions and pressures of their everyday lives. Artist residencies are about providing the time and space for a guest artist to develop work and creatively explore new ideas.
— artsACT

While an artist in residence programme can often be a reciprocal working arrangement supported by an institution with the aim of a certain outcome between the artist and the host, my residency has been quite secluded with time to reflect and explore my practise. The quiet, still time has brought me back to writing, something I used to do endlessly, and I have loved scribbling down words in my big red book. My intention is to revisit these lines of words and rework them with the hope of finding the courage to put them out into the world one day.

It inspired fear.

The storms that rattled through Mawgan Porth reached 70 miles an hour. I could sit in my crows nest of a studio and see them bounding across the sea towards the land. The shafts of sun were like theatrical spot lights and the rain made columns that held up the clouds. It was awesome, truly and in the fullest sense of the word. It inspired fear when I was out in it - yes, I did venture a short way up the coast path and yes, I turned round feeling very stupid that I had even thought that was a good idea! But it also filled me with awe, the power of it and the deafening, violent booming of it had me hooping with laugher on the beach like a mad woman. I haven’t felt that untethered and wildly happy for a long time. Weather will do that to me.

The tide was big too, a new moon spring tide. Nearly 6 meters! The beach was huge at low tide which made for some beautiful reflections on the wet sand and some great moments watching the sea bubbles blow. I have put a few video’s here for you to see the power that was in the weather!

I might save my walk till later! You can find more short films here

New work and inspiration

I have come home with some ideas and rough sketches for new pieces of work that I want to explore a little more before committing to my collections on a permanent basis. The wildness of the north coast and the empty time to explore in detail will find its way into new work and inspiration will be ruminating through me for a while now. I have shared some images with you here of rough workings and the result of playing around with silver forms. I made these pieces like jigsaw pieces, inspired by the rugged and hairy looking stone wall, the boundary wall, above Bedruthan Steps. They will form the base and the starting blocks to move forward and, in time, become new pieces of jewellery.