I’ve always loved writing about the arts and as a hobby potter myself, it’s always an honour to meet a true ceramist. Early this summer I headed to beautiful Brauton, in Devon, to meet Jon Curtis, whose work is inspired by the coast and I discovered beauty at the breakfast table. You can read my feature, published by Devon Life magazine here.
Earlier this summer I was lucky enough to spend a day at Exmoor Owl & Hawk Centre where I discovered a kind, natural way of working with animals. You can read my feature, published in Somerset Life magazine here. I hope it inspires you as much as it did me!
I was recently fortunate enough to interview internationally acclaimed artist Kirstie Macleod for Somerset Life magazine, as she has settled in the county. My piece concentrates on her Barocco project, which started out as a performance piece where Kirstie herself sat within a central Perspex cube wearing and embroidering the ornate red dress that filled the tiny space around her. In the 7 years since then the dress has traveled around the world being continuously embroidered and added to by 50 different participants to date.
“What started out as a roll of red fabric has now become a powerful piece examining cultural identity, and the merging of boundaries.”
You can read the feature online here.
One of the things I love most about being a freelance journalist is the interesting people I get to meet – architectural sculptor Timothy Richards definitely being one of them. I spent a day at Tim’s workshop in Bath and discovered he’s actually a one-off in the world. In this feature for Somerset Life magazine I explore his exquisite models, which manage to embody the very essence of architecture. In these times when the mass produced seems to prevail, it’s so very refreshing to meet a true master craftsman who’s bucking the trend. Please have a read below.
I recently interviewed the inspirational and very talented Jess Pigott, a 23-year-old art graduate from Somerset who paints brilliantly bold, emotive landscapes. Although she’s a new artist, she already has gallery representation and her paintings are selling for in excess of £2000 each. In this feature for Somerset Life magazine I talk to Jess about making her mark on the art world. Have a read below!
You’d be hard pressed to find a person who loves Devon more than me. At weekends I’m more than happy exploring our coastal towns and beaches and walking the moors. Sometimes you just need to change it up though, right? I’d heard the Gower’s beaches were the best in Wales and I found a company with luxury Shepherds Huts overlooking Rhossili beach, so off I went… You can read about my glamping adventure on the Gower in this month’s One Magazine, or online here.
In this feature for the January 2016 issue of Somerset Life magazine I look at the ways people can use their gardens to help wildlife thrive in the coming year. Have a read and be inspired to plant bee and butterfly friendly plants and flowers, feed and water the birds, be a friend to amphibians and create a haven for hedgehogs! I love wildlife and have enjoyed creating a wildlife friendly space in my own city garden, so it was a pleasure to write this piece. Thanks to Somerset Wildlife Trust for their help.
I’m happy to have my feature ‘Brewing A Storm’ on The Exeter Brewery published in this month’s Devon Life magazine. It was an interesting piece to write and photograph – I discovered that The Exeter Brewery’s organic real ale is so popular it’s exported to France via sail boat and rebranded for the Army!
Having met Laura Lane at The Contemporary Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey earlier this year – her distinctive granite look ceramics caught my eye straight away – I was looking forward to meeting up at her studio and finding out where her creativity comes from. In this feature, published in Cornwall Life magazine I find out – you can read the whole feature online here.
This summer I’ve enjoyed being commissioned to write and photograph several walks in Devon. My dog, Poppy, has enjoyed all of them immensely, other than this one, which saw me walk a Llama across Dartmoor. One ticked off my quirky bucket list for sure!
