Wood Lane

On the 30th of July 2013, I was invited to take part in a two-day residency at Pennine Camphill in Wakefield. The opportunity was to explore the grounds, document, sketch, and create a series of paintings that would be displayed in an exhibition in the main building. I remember a lot of rain, but even though it rained, I stayed outside, determined to fully immerse myself in the process. In the brief respites, the sky transformed into a dramatic display of rolling clouds, shifting and stretching across the landscape. I knew I had to capture them, they became a defining feature of this series.

It was an incredible experience to see the unique buildings and farmland, soaking in the atmosphere of the place. I painted at least nine works for the exhibition, probably more. At the time, I was balancing so much, working part-time at the local picture framers, Bevelo, helping to run temporary artist studios with Northern Young Artists, volunteering with Unity Arts to support their art programs, and exhibiting at the Wakefield Art Walk, all while making sculptures for Unity Gifts. I honestly have no idea how I managed it all.

Out of the entire series, this painting has always stuck with me. The movement in the clouds, the open, endless landscape, it feels alive. There’s a real sense of space and freedom in it. It’s a reminder of those moments in between the rain, where the sky would open up and transform the whole scene.