Nearly the end of 2020, a year that brings to mind the words ‘challenging, difficult, frustrating, sad, and occasionally wonderful’. Since March, we have had to learn to adapt to our restricted circumstances, and now in December, the immediate future looks very similar with London in Tier 4 and a new virus strain circulating the country.
Trace, on show at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery
Despite all the difficulties and uncertainties from Covid 19 the year brought me opportunities I had never had before and which I am very grateful to have experienced. From mid-January until the first lock-down I was thrilled to have a solo exhibition, A Strange and Familiar Sea, at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery. It should have run until late May, but despite being cut short, it was a wonderful experience. The gallery space was beautiful and I was happy with the install, and in the two months it was open, the exhibition received very positive feedback from visitors.
England / Reflection at Offshoot Gallery, London
Throughout the year I have been a student again, studying MA Photography at LCC, UAL. Tuition went online after the March break but the quality of online teaching was wonderful and it was great to have the intensity of working on a final project. I feel that I have learned a lot from this course. It was sad to have lost the social aspects of being a student, but in the autumn term some on site tuition returned and it was good to see the other students again. As an on site graduate exhibition is not able to take place because of Covid, a two-person exhibition, England / Reflection has been organised with another student, Natalie Robinson, and the work is now installed at Offshoot Gallery, London. We hope it can be open to the public from mid-January.
Inside Sea Level, published by Another Place Press
Lastly, this year has come to a close with my new photography book, Sea Level, published by Another Place Press. I’ve self-published before but never had a publisher take on my work, so this has been very exciting, especially as I had always hoped Sea Level might be published at some point. It was a pleasure to work with Iain, who runs Another Place Press, and the book was part of the Field Notes series, published alongside two other books. The first edition of 100 books sold out during pre-orders, and I received some copies this week.
Despite all the uncertainty, I’m excited by the year ahead. As artists, let's keep strong and watch out for one another. Wishing you all a brilliant 2021!