Storytree

This project was made over a twelve month period while I was working on the Arts Council funded 'Papertrails' residency, based in the woodlands and commons in Elmbridge in Surrey. I asked people I met during this time for their stories about the woodlands (either these specific Surrey woodlands or the idea of 'woods'). Some are factual accounts, some are reminiscences and some are fairy stories. I then literally put these stories back into the landscape that inspired them. This was a mutual activity that initiated and invited responses. The circle was completed when people found these stories in sometimes quite remote places and read them. Project supported by Arts Council England, The R C Sherriff Trust, Elmbridge Borough Council, Surrey Arts, Surrey County Council. The photographs which document this process were shown during the residency in but also afterwards in 2008 at 'Books from the Landscape' at Farnham Maltings and in 'Connection', BECA Gallery, New Orleans, USA. Private collection