Found in Frankwell

Walking regularly in my local area of Frankwell in Shrewsbury during the Covid 19 lockdown, I began a process of mapping and creative activities leading to a series of artist books and a collaborative project with 6 other artists based in or connected with the area. The first two books (An A to Z of Frankwell and Frankwell in View) are sold in support of the Shrewsbury Food Hub, an environmental charity which redistributes surplus food from retailers in Shrewsbury to community groups that can make good use of it. For Frankwell in View, I linked up with six artists: Anne Bremridge, Sandra Fisher, Amanda Hillier, Jim Sadler, Jancis Vaughan and Jennifer Wallace. Together we compiled a book of drawings, prints, collages and photographs celebrating the heritage and green spaces of our community. For the A to Z, my daughter, Eliza and I researched local history and explored buildings and places. Inspired by Common Ground’s Local Distinctiveness projects, Eliza created an alphabet using images from signs in Frankwell, while I made a set of ink drawings. Found in Frankwell comprises two volumes of photomontages created from a series of photographs taken whilst walking in Frankwell during the Covid 19 lockdown March to July 2020. When walking we experience a chaotic stream of sensory information and chance encounters with the everyday and the surprising. These books were inspired by the work of Robert Rauschenberg, who could always find beauty in these juxtapositions. Walking Territory is a single edition artist book documenting my Covid walks restricted to within 2km of my house. It comprises a series of route maps and text responses to the choreography of social distancing entangled with the unfolding of Spring. The book is made with paper made from plant materials gathered from my garden and from walks, and using ink made from oak galls from my garden.