Petrified

Product description

Oil, Acrylic and seacoal on canvas

It is speculated that Redcar is named after the red mud flats marking the coast, alongside the ancient petrified forest which lies underneath the water and sand. The petrified forest on Redcar beach has been exposed during several major storms, and its exposure reached local news in March 2018 when the storm "The Beast from the East" hit. Alongside many locals and tourists, I explored and photographed the forest dating back to the Neolithic period. Many storms have continued to expose the forest since, leading to permanent exposure in some areas due sand erosion. This exposure showcases accelerated climate change and the stress the local ecosystem is under.

The themes of my practice are industrial landscape and pollution. I mix different products on surfaces to reflect processes within industry and how they have changed the shape and composition of the landscape. I am currently focussing on carefully applied layers, to reflect how our land has deep integration of contaminants and question the impacts of historic and present contamination.

Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art
Northumbria University