“My PNI residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre provided a wonderful opportunity for me to reconnect with the natural world in a new setting. I had been looking forward to discovering what birdlife was to be found at the nearby Annaghmakerrig Lough and came across Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants, Swans and Herons. And Swallows getting ready for their return journey south.
As part of my proposal for the week’s residency I set myself the challenge of beginning and completing a linocut. I spent time observing, drawing and taking photographs of the birdlife and eventually focused on the familiar mute swan and its habitat among the reeds and bullrushes. For me having the time to quietly observe allows this reconnection to the natural world and to see the extraordinary in the familiar. A new piece of work is now in development.
I had the use of the print studio, a large bright room with plenty of natural light and excellent lighting in the evening too. Here I continued working on two other pieces, colour proofing a linocut called ‘Skylark’ using the Albion letterpress and carving the lino for another piece. Having meals provided by the residency allowed me wonderful uninterrupted blocks of time and to make good progress in my work.
Many thanks to PNI for such a great experience. And many thanks to all the people working there who made me feel so welcome.”
