RECENT WORK:
Exploratory sketch for Murmurations on a Blanket. Detail image below.
Examples of Recent Work:
Blankets: This is a series of work using a mordanted canvas (blanket) to document Sophie’s experiences with the landscape. The canvas acts as both a traditional canvas holding pigments processed from plants and minerals around her and as an intermediary between her body and the world. The accumulative residue of marks stain the canvas and over a long period of time build a map that tracks her relationships with the land around her. These works eventually come back into the studio where materials from her domestic landscape become part of the works as well. The images below are some examples and an image of Sophie in the woods with a blanket.
Becoming Animal, 2024, 177 x 127 cm, Madder, hawthorn, oak galls, acorns, iron, clay pigments, house paint, children’s crayons, rose petals, river and rain water, sun bleached, soil, alder, blackberry, charcoal, ash, rust, found chalk, etc etc on canvas. The bottom is sewn up with dried rose hips.
Image (by Annabel Howard)
Messmates II, 2024, weld, iron, gall nuts, alder, river water, sea water, walnuts, rain, cochineal, colour pencils, soap, sun bleached, tears, snail slime, dust, pine resin, mushroom compost, onion skins, dandelion milk, snot on canvas. The bottom is sewn up with dried lavender.
Bag of herbs, 2023, 46 x 54 cm, calendula, tulips, coriander, cornflower, poppy, mugwort oil, oxygen bleach, valerian, iron, children’s colour pencils, soil, sand, clay, sunshine, river water, candle wax, frankincense, footprints, carpet dye, rose petals, smoke, vodka, sap, swallow droppings, dust, st john’s wort.
Summer II, 2025, Avocados, rust, house paint, ochres, clay, river water, sea salt, pine resin, madder root, alchemilla dew, calendula ink, charred wood, washing powder, ash, brick dust, rescue remedy, bark rubbing, pine cones, rain water etc on canvas.
Clusters, Suitcases, Flap Paintings: The paintings from this series came from a desire to create smaller works that included both the natural and man made materials that now infiltrate the landscapes around us.
Most of these paintings are on handmade boxes of wood that contain both non-recyclable materials and natural objects found by me and my child. The thinking being that they become a kind of time capsule, altar and bin all at once.
Cluster II, 2024, Dimensions Variable, Marshmallow leaves, river clay, compost, pastels, house brick, ochre, hawthorn, top soil, worm castings, children’s paint, toothbrush head, nail varnish, cleaning vinegar, paracetamol, vitamins, rust, pencil, thyroxin, pva glue, saliva, tipp-ex, silver birch bark, crushed cockle shells, st john’s wort oil, ash leaves, chamomile flowers, bandage, honey comb, bean seeds, found chalk, acorns, calendula flowers, painted ceramic pots on wooden boxes filled with flowers and non recyclable waste.
Still Life, 2023, Dimensions Variable, Air dry clay, river clay, sandpit sand, beach sand, hot chocolate, food colouring, rescue remedy, sun cream, fennel seeds, chamomile, rose petals, blackberry, children’s clothing, craft paint, felt tips, vitamins, pva glue, milk, nappy rash cream, house paint, ground roof tiles, coffee, pastels, hundreds and thousands, thyroxin, plant hormone, marble, acorn cups, cup, vase, cockle shell, stones, bean seed, chalk, madder, rust on filled wooden boxes.
I’m Here Too, 2023, 23 x 30 cm, Hair, probiotic, house paint, kid’s chalk, river clay, compost, chicken egg, cleaning vinegar, nail varnish, bicarbonate of soda, iron stone, hawthorn, rose hip, brandy and coffee on wood.
I’m Here Too (top part taken off), 2023, 23 x 30 cm, Hair, probiotic, house paint, kid’s chalk, river clay, compost, chicken egg, cleaning vinegar, nail varnish, bicarbonate of soda, iron stone, hawthorn, rose hip, brandy and coffee on wood.
Suitcase paintings, 2023, 23 x 30 x 4cm, House paint, rust, clay, compost, suncream, crushed vitamins, chocolate powder, ochres, elderberry, watercolour, soap, vinegar, seeds, petals, children’s clothes, pastels on wooden box full of non-recyclable plastic and dried flowers with metal handle.
Example of inside the boxes.
Selected Archive:
URBAN WEED APOTHECARY
STICK COAT
BUSH HEAD