DEAD TREE

katrina Naomi, Oil Pastels on paper

Katrina Naomi, a poet, responded to one of the dead trees within the triangular pre-historic earthwork on Ashtead Common with this startling piece, which is an oppositional affirmation of life, with it's vibrant colours and inherent energy.

DRAWING

Christine Nicholls, Epsom Tree, pencil on paper

Sunday was a great day for conversation, walking and drawing, and it seems that we had some very skilled artists along, Chrissie made this elegant piece of work in less than 15 minutes, quite something.

SECOND ARTWALK

Yesterday we had almost the perfect weather for the second Artwalk of 2013, the showers typically only came when we sat down to eat or draw, the rest of the time sun and some light winds accompanied our progress. The sun has bleached the coulour out of the grasses revealing spiders webs full of seeds and grass hoppers clinging to stems.

Some very impressive drawings were made before the rain, and I hope the artists involved may upload their work over the next few weeks. For me the conversations we had were the highlight of the day.

Walking, conversation and art, a perfect day.

Thanks to Arts News - spreading the word about Art Walks 28.07.13

Not only have Arts Council England been a fundamental partner in funding the development of my residency on Epsom & Ashtead Common this summer.

Arts News has been spreading the word about Art Walks via their website promoting all the latest Arts Jobs & Arts News across the UK http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/

Follow this link to see their latest post about Art Walks

http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/index.php?id=25&ne_post_id=107532

Follow Arts News on Twitter @arts_news

PREPARATIONS FOR THE 28TH

Today I rediscovered a familiar shelter off the summer horse ride, it looks as if it had been recently added to. With the good weather more people are on the common and the kids often add branches to these unofficial shelters that occur all over the wooded areas.

preparations for the second Artwalk are all in place and I hope to see you on Sunday at 11am, weather should be better than the first walk, so bring some water and food and a hat.

BUTTERFLIES AND SUN

It wasn't long into my walk onto the common last Friday when I spotted this small tortoiseshell butterfly. The sun seems to bring out more butterflies on the lower meadow and this hot snap has proved to be particularly productive. I have been preparing for my trip to the Czech Republic in August, and this trip down to Epsom has helped me to get away from the computer and just walk all day.

Brown Ringlet butterflies seem to occur all over the commons too, but prefer the long grass to settle on and open their wings.

Art Walks - new date for 1st September 2013

AUGUST ARTWALK RESCHEDULED

I have had some great news, having applied for a place as one of the lead artists on a 'Wild residency' in the North of the Czech republic, I got a yes over the weekend. An amazing opportunity to work with 20 other artists from Europe and the rest of the world in North Bohemia, but it will be over the time of the last Artwalk, so we have re scheduled it to the 

1st of September.

Sorry if you were planning to come to that walk, but I hope that you can make it to the new date. Above is a picture of the jays feather that Ben found on the Artwalk in June, which now seems a long time ago.

Ben Hallifax's photo of the Adders Vertebrae we found on Low Meadow.