Dedicated to my pal Mary O'Toole ( always an inspiration) on her birthday. A video poem about climate change which will affect communities around the world. This is about vulnerable communities on the islands of the west coast of Scotland.
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.
There is always a sense of the slowing down of time when mist emerges and rolls across water. This is enhanced when accompanied by silence. I caught this perfect scene at Scotnish in Agyll and formed the poem as I was recording.
The power of the turn of the tide always amazes me - the sense of wiping clean a slate. This is from one of my favourite locations in Argyll that I continue to be drawn to - the River Add estuary which has extensive sandbanks that stretch out into Crinan Bay. There is a powerful sense of being enclosed by water as the tide comes in - as sense of walking in a transitionary place.
Capturing the beauty of sounds and detail of winter bird activity
Ive now updated this piece to allow a slower transition between each seasons
I have had the opportunity to record the change of seasons through image words and sound of a Beech woodland. I’m using this piece for my next workshop of Landscape of the Mind which is about Landscape and Time.
So much rain I cant help thinking about climate change
Lochbuie, Mull welcomes the Atlantics most perfect curved wave.
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.
Its that time of year where every connection with nature and landscape makes you mourn the loss of spring and summer.
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.
Been having a bit of a journey around lighthouses recently. This one is Fladda Lighthouse with late autumn sun. The latest have been on Orkney and I will be posting new images about a recent trip soon.
Looking back to late summer and a journey to Coll where I captured the relentless driving force of a river on its journey to recycle itself into the waves
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.
I was absolutely delighted to be asked to read as this years Geopoetry event that was due to be held at Dynamic Earth and ended up as a day long online fizzing explorative and collaborative event between scientists, artists and lovers of all things about Scotland’s geology - the founding backbone of its amazingly rich and diverse landscapes. I am please to be able to share my presentation.
Autumn is coming and perhaps I am feeling my age with this poem inspired by tree rings.
Final version of an epic of 5 poems about growing up in the New Forest
I am developing a graphic that will link all five poems in the New Forest Tales sequence ( memories of childhood to young adult years) I’m not quite sure how it will work on completion - a video with link to each of the poems perhaps? The last is a play on Janis Ian’s song ‘Seventeen’ -an intensely depressing piece and highly suitable for teens with confidence issues.
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!
