About My Practice

Drawing, and in particular line is at the root of my practice. My current research is the ancient paths in the South Downs National Park, in particular; The South Downs Way, including significant paths that traverse this major route between Eastbourne and Winchester.  

It is important to indicate the importance of line within my work because through my practice and teaching, line is more than the drawn pencil mark but includes sound, mapping, walking, photography as well as conventional fieldwork drawing. I like to think of my practice as a form of hodology, neural pathways, interconnections, ideas which are then expressed through drawing, painting and print-making. Through deep mapping my aim is to create a framework that tells the story of a path from the Neolithic to the Twenty-first century, drawing on social geography, archaeology, archeobotany and archival research alongside the important fieldwork which grounds my practice.   

Whether traced in the air or on paper, whether by the tip of the stick or the pen, it arises from the point that – just as the Corporal intended - is free to go where it will, for movement’s sake. As Klee memorably put it, the line that develops freely, and in its own time, ‘goes for a walk’ (1961:105). And in reading it, the eyes follow the same path as did the hand in drawing it. (Ingold, 2007)  

Materials and process are also an important aspect of my research, combining traditional natural materials with digital technology. Materials including making my own oak gall ink, egg tempera, chalk gesso as well as embellishing with gold, silver or copper leaf, then coalescing the processes with film, photography and print-making, weaving processes and methods comes from my Fine Art background where working closely with technicians allows me to challenge boundaries and develop new ways of working.

Field Work, looking out towards Titchbourne
on a path that our family call "Up Sylvesters"

Up Sylvesters 4 

Egg tempera, oak gall & Indian ink

Somerset paper 38 cm x 45 cm

2018

Up Sylvesters 1
Egg tempera, Oak gall & Indian ink
Somerset paper 38 cm x 45 cm
2018

Up Sylvesters 3
Egg tempera, Oak gall & Indian ink
Somerset paper 38 cm x 45 cm
2018

Up Sylvesters 2
Egg tempera, oak gall & Indian ink
Somerset paper 38 cm x 45 cm
2018

Chalk Shadow
Long Woman of Cheriton
October sun 

This Way That Way
Walking back along the River Itchen
I was intrigued by the lines in the grass
flowing in opposite directions