When I first visited Orkney I cycled across Hoy to experience the famous sea stack The Old Man of Hoy. As I approached this giant toothy rock created by coastal erosion a helicopter landed on its summit for a brief few seconds and flew off. This to me, along with its ascent by climbers, epitomised the stacks slow, steady decline. Its still a wonder to see and others will replace it.
poetry
Orkney Series
I was delighted to revisit Orkney in October last year after a ten year absence. Its ancient self connected with its landscape struck me powerfully again and I decided to a do a series based on my reflections. This is my first one about a beautiful yet distinctly separate island.
Soft Bounce
Capturing the beauty of sounds and detail of winter bird activity
Skaill
Another in my Orkney series capturing the mystery of the Neolithic village of Skara Brae that was buried by a storm and later exposed by another storm.
Death of a Season
Pier Art Centre, Stromness
This is a wonderful piece of architecture - an insertion into the old harbour buildings of Stromness. The original building now converted once used by the Hudson Bay Company. Takes me back to Barbara Rae work from the arctic following in the footsteps of the Orcadian John Rae and his search for the North West passage. The collections is a wonderful modernist palette connecting two ancient cultures.
Armeria maritima in October
One of those strange late flowerings in autumn that makes you question climate change even more. The Sea Thrift or Pink is a summer flowerer and has has a second flush on a cold October day.
Tiree Transition
The Isle of Tiree has the equivalent magical effect on me as the River Add Estuary. After a visit, which I was lucky enough to do in early August this year, I cant stop writing, painting and creating video content about this Island whose land lies beneath the waves. Roll on next years Tiree Music Festival!
Poetry, Maps and Art
This one has been a long time in the making. I am fascinated by the River Add Estuary in Argyll as it journeys its winding course to the Crinan Bay and the Atlantic. The sense of freedom that comes with un-containment of the water and the contrast of the contained nature of its neighbour the Crinan Canal. The history and geology of the place are as always what inspires me. After initial sketches I decided to opt for an artistic interpretation of the OS Map which enabled me to reference some of the features I mention in the two poems.
Geopoetry 2020
I am so pleased to be invited to speak at this years Geopoetry 2020 event which will take place on line. The free registration website is now open: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/geopoetry20 if you want to join us. Here are my submissions based on human connection with landscape.
Landscapes of the Mind
I am delighted to be taking part in a collaborative research project with Queen Margaret University and the British Geological Survey using participatory art to develop new ways of thinking about landscape more holistically that can contribute to policy decision making for the protection and stewardship of our landscapes. The forums theme is coast and waters and these were my contributions.
New Forest Tales - Wootton Stream
I am writing a series of childhood memories about the New Forest where I was fortunate to grow up. Wootton Stream was a magical place, almost Narnian, where we were not route marched about by parents for healthy exercise - it was a place to play and run wild with our imaginations. The photograph is by my dear friend Tig who loved this stream too and who shared some of her memories with me to help make this poem.
Skin
The bark of trees of different species, age and locations is as varied as our own skin and I wrote this poem presented as a short video piece to celebrate this.