Beth

Forest School Artist

I am an Artist-designer, lecturer, archivist and workshop leader with a background in Theatre Design, training at Wimbledon School of Art, with a Masters in History of Design from the Royal College of Art & Victoria & Albert Museum. I run Art Classes in drawing, painting & model making and have a range of experience working within organisations that support arts and disabilities with a strong response to our surroundings. Participants are at the centre of this work.

Forest School allows me to share my interests as an artist, where I use nature as a resource and inspiration. I like making my own materials paint/ink from walnuts/oak galls/earth and stone – using moss, acorns, wood, willow etc. to create work. I have always been interested in bringing the outside in, seeing art in nature and nature in art – Forest School feels more authentic, working in nature not just with it. My ideas come from loving the outdoors, wild camping, gardening, walking in nature and more directly from my experience working with participants outside. I love working within the environment, making art from organic materials and being in all weathers and seasons and the challenges that come with that. I live by the rule that to make memories in nature you never leave behind what will not go back into the earth or take from the environment what does not replenish itself for future visitors.

Surrounded by orchards and woodlands in Kent I seek off-grid/remote locations to visit with my family – mountains and forests to reconnect with nature. I try to get to Scotland or Wales every year and most recently stayed off-grid in the Catalan mountains sleeping under canvas, no electric, internet or running water – cataloguing wildlife, photographing nature, relaxing and resetting our minds and bodies. Whether it is a week or just a few hours being in nature like art never gets boring and there is always something new to see, create and learn.