Emily Mc Gardle was awarded the inaugural PNI Burren College of Residency in which took place in April 2026.
“During my residency in the Burren College of Art I had access to the print room which enabled me to develop a series of intaglio watercolour monotypes. I was also provided with a studio space where I worked on screenprinted monotypes, and created preparatory drawings for future screenprints. The residency allowed me to spend a significant amount of time carrying out experiments with creating plant-based art materials. I made hard pastels from lake pigments, an oat binder, and calcium carbonate sourced from a quarry near the Burren. I collected small amounts of native plant materials to test the efficacy of the sun tea method of dye extraction, I then added these dye liquids to a range of binders to create watercolour paints and screenprinting inks.”
