Mutualism- ACW and QEST

Away from other people, I seek and find solace, meaning and spirituality. Wandering the winding coastal paths discovering shoreline plants, shells, small glimmering streams. Turns in the narrow track showing me new wonders. Breaks in the clouds allowing the bright sunlight through. The silver sea, an undulating creature, so vast and reflective. Walking the shoreline, waves lapping. The soft strong sound making the experience all consuming. Drowning out the noise of the rest of the world. Taking in the wonder, the magic. I am quiet, intrigued. Parts of creatures, skeletons, discarded shells- worn into holes. Smells full of richness and life. Piles of decaying washed up treasures. Natural and man-made detritus. On my knees, down low, hands searching, exploring, sorting and selecting. Observing intently, touching and probing. Pools of sea water full of dark life. Wandering with no plan, yet hope to discover. Curious. Lost in a strange world, yet at home. A kind of meditation. Where nothing else occurs to me, a numbing. Then the forest-rich smelling soil- deep and fertile. Full of nutrition, life, connections, magic. Hidden creatures, organisms. Interdependent, exchanging. The abundance of plant forms. The shades of green are uncountable. I lie down, my hair in the soil and leaves, sensual, content. I turn my head and notice the small fungi, exquisite macro worlds, moss flowers, lichen- grey green. The trees above sheltering me, dappled light on my face. Let me lie here forever, enclosed, quiet, moss as my bed, safe from the outside world.

Mutualism explored beneficial symbioses between sea and land, humans and the natural environment, animal and plant forms, the making and sharing of my practice with others, relationships between makers, and the techniques of glass casting and pâte de verre.

The aim of this Arts Council of Wales funded project was to create more intricate and ambitious works based on the plant forms that have long inspired me, while also incorporating features from marine animals. The project became an ongoing journey of learning, experimentation, and discovery, as well as an opportunity to create and exhibit new work.

My inspiration has always come from plant life, particularly cryptogamic plants such as lichens, mosses, algae, and fungi. Through Mutualism, I also investigated the structures and textures of marine creatures and invertebrates, including sea urchins, sea stars, jellyfish, sea anemones, and coral. I combined qualities of these plant and animal organisms within sculptural works, continuing to develop my use of found natural elements alongside glass and other materials.

Developed as part of both my QEST Scholarship and an Arts Council of Wales funded project, Mutualism focused on my connection to nature, the spirituality I find within it, and my sense of place. The work reflected a love of the land I call home, the natural environments I have grown up around and chosen to spend my life alongside. It celebrated Wales and its abundance of natural beauty, diversity, and wonder.

I investigated many beaches and shorelines in Wales, taking images of seaweed, pebbles, shells, and the sea. I also collected natural objects and, on returning to my studio, photographed them as collections, recording where and when I had found them.

As part of the project, I collaborated with Bangor University’s Ocean Sciences Department. The Sea Collection Bottles were inspired by the bottles used to collect ocean samples for testing oxygen levels. Their stoppers were created from intriguing natural objects collected from local beaches.

The larger Mutualism Bottles drew inspiration from the glass vessels used to store diatoms and plankton within the university laboratories. The removable stoppers were made using the pâte de verre technique and featured enamelled details inspired by the growth patterns of moss and algae.

Project partners included Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, Ruthin Craft Centre, Studio Made, Makers Guild Wales, Liverpool Museums, The Bluecoat Display Centre, World Museum Liverpool, Bangor University’s Ocean Sciences Department, Natural Resources Wales, Fiaz Elson, and Angela Thwaites.