Katrina Wallis-King, 4 – 11 November 2023
The experience of my residency went beyond my expectations. Nothing had prepared me for the reality of arriving at Brisons Veor – the light-filled studio looking out on rugged cliffs and dynamic seas, and the welcoming sanctuary of the house which felt like home during my week’s stay.
Although I’d thought ahead of what I hoped to achieve, the most significant lesson was allowing myself to slow down and really see and feel the landscape around me. I scaled down my ambitions of visiting as many places as initially earmarked, and let each day’s weather and light lead the way.
I was surprised by the number of people who were intrigued by what I was doing, and wanted to share their own experience of living in or visiting such a beautiful part of Cornwall – spontaneous conversations that reaffirmed values of engaging with landscape, history and community.
Tin mines, moorland, streams and the mighty Atlantic – a lot of sketching by day, experimenting back in the studio into the small hours, and in the final days turning to working in oils – something I’d like to make more time for, as I usually work in dry medium.
The residency impacted positively on many levels – dedicated time and space to unravel and reflect personally and, as an artist, the opportunity to see with fresh eyes and enjoy creativity for its own sake.
