back to blogFor this site visit Nick joined me so he could get some inspiration for his part of the project. We were planning to walk the Esk trail but for a number of reasons we decided to postpone to later in the year and focused instead on Glaisdale Rigg a little further down the Esk valley from Danby.
We were both particularly interested in exploring what appeared to be a well worn pathway, maybe an old pack horse trail, up along Glaisdale Rigg which would give us a perfect view down into Fryup and also into Rosedale.
I was on a mission to firm up some ideas for my Boundaries project and to get my sketchbook out and do some onsite sketching.... trying to move away from my comfort zone of controlling the environment I'm working in... and you know what it worked and I am happy to have actually got some marks down!
Our first day was going to be the best in terms of weather although it was pretty changeable which is perfect as far as I'm concerned as you do get some fabulous cloud action. Little did I realise how humid the day was going to be and how much the sun burned through the clouds.
Despite the humidity it was wonderful to be able to just explore, switch off and take in my surroundings. I'd been discussing with my coach Jenni the need to be able to bumble along without having to get from A to B within a set time period. Although my commute to the studio is the best ever, there is a sense of purpose of getting to and from work, and I was missing that exploring and wandering without time limits. So having a full day to be able to do just that was wonderful especially being able to explore a new landscape. I came back with all sorts of found (discarded) objects and ideas.
On all my site visits I've stumbled across stone way markers dotted around marking a safe passage across these moors. Glaisdale Rigg was no exception and this time we could pick out the route across the moorland and down into the dales quite clearly. The moor must have been quite a highway for travellers at some point in time.
Heather burn back was prevalent creating intricate patterns where plant life was growing back at different stages. At one point it looked like someone had been out with a roller and painted in lush green and purple stripes. We also stumbled across the traditional grouse butts with their stone walls, mossy tops, dotted diagonally across the landscape.
Path erosion, way markers, lines of grouse butts and burn back - permanent marks created over centuries of using this moorland as a highway and of managing the land. I really wanted to see how this all looked from above and whether this could provide an opportunity to inspire more abstract work for the project. Step in google earth and you have a snapshot in time which highlights the patterns created from this scarring on the landscape. It's definitely the start of an idea so watch this space.
I have come away from this site visit inspired, with some ideas having been firmed up, and new landscapes explored. It is a big project which will take up most of my painting time at the end of this year and start of next year and will result in an exhibition in September 2025 at the Inspired by... gallery as well as publishing a poetry / art book. More to come over the summer as myself and Nick explore this area further and hopefully get to meet up with some of the North York Moors conservation team.
A big thank you to Bradford Producing Hub who helped fund this particular site visit. My first ever successful funding application and I have put it to good use, using the funds to support my stay on the North York Moors for this site visit as well as materials to get me started on my sketching adventures. The team are doing great things supporting the arts in Bradford in preparation for Bradford 2025.
