British seaweeds

Inspired by the recent focus on climate change and sustainability, I have developed my interest in what links science, nature and art.

My latest expression covers seaweeds in 2021 in Devon and more specifically, in Torbay, where I live. The flora are what I have found washed up on the beach after a storm – I have neither uprooted nor detached them from their habitat. This artwork offers visitors to the bay something different to take away with them as a souvenir of their visit, while local people have an opportunity to revive and, for some, deepen their relationship to their surroundings.

The photographic images of local seaweeds and lichens are printed on vellum and mounted in trifold cards. The vellum accentuates the fragility of the flora along the coast and gives an impression of the transparency and translucency of the medium in which the seaweeds are found. The images are also available printed on A4 vellum.

Greetings cards made and sold individually (£5) or in packs of 5 (£20) All images are the artist’s copyright.

Individual seaweed and lichen images printed on vellum, mounted and framed.( Prices vary depending on size). All images are the artist’s copyright.

The cyanotypes are a 1:1 exposure of the seaweed and are unique – the piece cannot be reproduced as it is because the seaweed breaks up when it is taken off the paper / silk after it has been exposed to UV rays.

Cyanotype seaweed paper banner 1.2m x 0.53m with curved laminated mahogany top and bottom stays.

Meghan Riepenhoff’s work Litoral, and Anna Atkins’ Sun Gardens, have influenced how I see and represent the South Devon coast.

My first cyanotype with algae on a cartridge paper .(Fucus vesiculosus)

The effects of the sea salt on the cyanotype chemicals gives that brown effect which will increasingly play a part in my prints.

Spiny Straggle weed .

Seaweed exposed without a glass covering.

20/07/20

Ulva lactuca exposed and treated.

Ulva lactuca (43cm x 39cm)

Ulva lactuca

Fucus serratus

Ulva lactuca partial exposure.(1.6m x 52cm)

Ulva lactuca full exposure.(1.6m x 52cm)

Ulva lactuca partial exposure 2.(1.6m x 52cm)

Vertebrata nigra: twisted siphon weed. (1.6m x 54cm)

Algae found in South Devon seas.

Algae found in South Devon 2.

Silk scarf with British algae and seagrasses design:160cm x 52cm.