Studio Visit from Emily Knight

Emily and her artist mother, Margaret Uttley came to visit my studio in Woodend Mill in March. They saw my work in Summer 2018 and wanted to offer me the chance to have a solo exhibition at their gallery in Settle. They were mostly interested in my recent work relating to the ecology of the local moors. This work is ongoing as I spend more time examining and recording the work being done to stabilise the sphagnum moss. My hand made prints of the wildfires will also be shown at their gallery from June to September 2019. More information will be coming shortly. 

Earth

Cotton Tops

Too Close to Home

In July 2018 and February 2019 the moors above Saddleworth and Mossley became the scene of extensive wildfires reported nationally. I was horrified but mesmerised by the images on the media and the sights above my neighbours houses. Some had to be evacuated and other suffered chocking smoke for days. It highlights the vulnerability of people’s closeness to the fires and the immediate effects of climate change on our own environment as our weather patterns become more extreme.

As soon as I could I went up to the moors and witnessed the devastation. I cast areas of the ground itself using plaster of Paris. The resulting materials and burnt samples of ground and wood were brought back to my studio and developed into a number of drawings and prints in my studio.

Some of these were entirely abstract but increasingly I incorporated a number of the images of the firefighters themselves. These images were from the pictures taken by them on site while dealing with the fires and then posted on social media.

Working at Hot Bed Press, Salford using large presses I was able to produce large scale collagraphic prints of these scenes. The process allowed me to work freely in a painterly manner while retaining the discipline of printing techniques. Each one is unique but they form a series since they are from the same plate.The work has been used to raise funds for the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team who volunteered their services to control the Moorland fires.

Solo Shows

The stress of staging a solo exhibition wherever the venue is only balanced by the rewards of seeing your work displayed as you want it. If the venue is somewhere as nice as the tiny theatre in the Millgate Arts Centre in Delph it’s even better. Thank you to everyone involved in the production of Pitman Painters. 

I’m looking forwards to seeing many of their future productions taking us into 2019 when my exhibition comes down on 6 January. This image of the Firefighters on the Moor is a record of the work done in July to prevent the Moorland fires spreading to people’s homes. I’m donating 50% of the proceeds from the sales of this print to the Oldham Mountain Rescue Fund. As volunteers they worked alongside the Fire and Rescue Services in dreadful conditions.

 

Exciting Times

So many things are developing at the moment. I’ve been asked to go to

  • Wentworth on Saturday to participate in a day of well….art. I’m going to draw. 
  • To be an artist/researcher at Wellcome Trust, London. 
  • To have two solo shows in Saddleworth. 
  • To collaborate with a local group called Recreate
  • Created a mailchimp newsletter. Let me know if you want me to add you to my mailing list.

 

Printing

Recently acquired a printing press so an exciting experimental phase of work has begun.

Spring Studio Warming

Video

Thank you to all that came to my Spring Studio Warming. It was a good start to my future in the studio. 

Woodend Mill 2, Floor 2, Studio 209. OL5 9RR. Message me when you want to visit.

Friends of the Earth

Our eARTh is the name of this exhibition. So pleased to have three works selected As it is in collaboration with Friends of the Earth at the famous Kunsthius Gallery, Crayke, North Yorkshire.

New Year New Studio

Going to move into my new studio soon. Its so big and light

Material Matters talk

So looking forwards to the conversation at Saul Hay Gallery on Friday at 6:30 

Organised by Sara Riccardi 

Material Matters

So pleased to be asked to take part in a new group exhibition at Saul Hay Gallery starting 21 July.