deptford

Sensory Cyanotypes

eco photography, Environment, photography workshops

I’ve always been interested in the overlap between the senses – sight, hearing, smell… . Many years ago I wrote a dissertation about Synaesthesia in Theatre and TV. I knew as a director that if you bombard the eyes with red for example, you will get a visceral response from your audience. I’ve always believed there are subliminal connections between for example colour and sound. For me a Middle C note is royal blue and always has been. After all, light and sound are just different types of waves, and colours and pitches are different frequencies.

Rosemary cyanotypes

When I work with ultraviolet light in my cyanotype printing I am very aware that the optimal frequency is 365nm. I can see the effects of sun, and all manner of clouds of the final print – I work with the weather to get the precise results I am after … I can control contrast and colour by harnessing the elements in the same way a farmer does to maximise his yield. This week I have noticed that my freckles start forming when UV breaches a certain point, I can literally feel them forming on my skin – no need for a light meter!

Pic of my mozzie bite and freckles

And that brings me to the connection between Earth, Body and Spirit, one that I fear we are losing in today’s concrete jungles. I’ve worked with city kids who have never touched a growing plant and don’t know where supermarket veg comes from beyond the plastic tray. When I lost my senses of smell and taste for years after Covid, the world felt a very 2-dimensional place. I felt detached, like I was living in a simulation of reality, a character in a computer game. When my senses returned I felt euphoric, and determined to never take these senses for granted again. I found out about the charity Fifth Sense who help people with smell/taste disorders and I did their training and now volunteer for them, to help raise awareness.

On the day that my sense of smell returned I happened to be picking rosemary at the John Evelyn Garden in Deptford. So this is where we are running an informal workshop on Fri 16 May 2025 2.30-4pm. Suitable for anyone wanting to explore the senses and nature, and to get hands-on with plants and make a cyanotype print with sunlight. We will be continuing the discussions of sensory perception then. Details on how to book a free place here

Public Art Commission

art

Since the pandemic everyone wants outdoor work! This job isn’t photography but it’s a bit like working with pixels in photoshop!

Work has begun on a huge mosaic for an exterior wall in Deptford Landings, to mark the Grand Surrey Canal that once ran through the site.

Pre drilling the panels

At first my design went through several incarnations, after discussions with the architects and builders. A log and tile structure, then a huge wave running along the building, then finally we went with my idea of a Birds Eye view showing different elements of the area through time.

I am making the mosaic onto 3 panels. Hundreds of tiles being shaped and collaged to create abstract landmasses and geographical features inspired by old maps I have examined and local knowledge.

I’m using parts from chipped tiles , end of lines, charity shops, inherited porcelain, and some gorgeous blue and beige tiles bought from local suppliers – N&C tiles and London Mosaics. Most of the materials are recycled or natural (stones).

Gasometer emerging

It’s been a lot of heavy work and hours making this mosaic. Cold, fumey, sticky – but fun! Can’t wait to see the final result on the wall soon.

The Plague Doctor Returns!

events

Having finished my “Deep Trouble” exhibition of about 20 framed Cyanotypes, when it came to Deptford X 2023 I wanted to do a single artwork. The theme this year is looking back on 25yrs of the festival. I’ve participated several times, but my standout year was 2021. We had just came out of lockdowns , everything had to be outdoors or online.

I made a big cyanotype collage, and on it I painted a Plague Doctor figure overlooking the High Street. I had interesting conversations with people about local history and about pandemics. My online scripted Zoom ‘happening’ going back in time with an actor really felt like it was breaking new ground.

Learning Curve

This year instead of a Cyanotype collage, I wanted to use a collage of photos of Deptford taken over the last 25yrs. That is where I made mistake number one! I had these images in my head, memories, but I had to find them in my archives! It took days to do this.

There was a mixture of darkroom prints, iphone photos etc to source. As I was scrolling my vast library it was a bit like seeing your “life flashing before your eyes”. (Similar to BeReal which I am very into. ) What is life, if it isn’t a series of photographic images in your memory? It is no coincidence that my background is in TV, the collage felt a bit like 24 frames per second , but laid out on a flat plane. However, glued down on a recycled piece of cardboard the images were underwhelming.

After the draining process of collating my very meaningful images I had lost energy to paint the Plague Doctor figure on top! But Deptford X is playful, and allows you to experiment, so I got deliberately sloppy with the paint.

I was fed up with painting the black colourless figure! Then I ate some custard and thought that would be a good colour for his ‘all seeing’ eye “. From there on it started to look like a GCSE art creation… but I’m ok with that. I know full well that if I had immaculately framed my stunning photos individually, they would have have had a very different impact. Instead, they are butted up against each other and give the impression of haphazard, slightly messy, clashing, loveable Deptford, The punky DIY assemblage also suited Overdrive music studios, where my piece hangs.

Public reaction has been fascinating so far. I will report back on that later. I am learning loads.

Catch it on 23, 24, 30th Sept & 1st Oct 12-10pm at a unit 7 Resolution way opposite Deptford station. Details here

Also my free drawing workshop at Pepys Hub should be fun!

Deptford X & other buses

photography

Since Lockdown work has been like buses, nothing for ages and then 3 projects at once. I always love Deptford X Festival as it interacts with my local community, but it was a lot of work this year because all work had to be outdoors. Artists had to find their own outdoor spaces, and I was walking down Deptford High Street in the pouring rain one day, and knocked on the door of a new bar (many places were still closed at this stage of lockdown). The venue (Badger Badger) were very hospitable and have allowed me to hang my work outside , and in the windows, and on the roof !

Now more than ever I see the value of physical art in a physical space like a street, and one that isn’t just a ticketed ‘art prison’.

My “Day 59” exhibition includes images from my Lockdown Diary in Cyanotype (book still in production!) and more responses to my thoughts on historic plagues. My work will come down at about 10pm on Sunday 18th July.

The opening event I held was online due to restrictions but it was quite a happening ! I gave a talk and demo but I then wanted to discuss pandemics in general , and we looked at the historic Plague Doctor. Having engaged the services of actor Ian Crosson, I was able to get a real Plague Doctor to join the Zoom and read my script that was based on my historic and scientific research.

I have my 1st in-person Cyanotype Workshop of the year planned on Friday 23rd July in Woolwich. Only £15 and a great opportunity to make some lovely blueprints in the midday sunlight. I am also planning a Process-A-Film Workshop for Fri 13 August – I am not sure if there will be interest in that but it can certainly save you a lot of money in the lab !

The other new project I am working on involves more mermaids – watch this space !

Event coming

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I am indebted to the detailed local history knowledge that has been passed onto me by Maureen Vitner (of St. Nicholas Church), Malcom Cadman (John Evelyn Community Garden), and Richard Katona (Deptford writer). They have helped me with my research for my current commission for the Timberyard building. I have invited them to my Artist’s Talk on 16th Feb 2019 for an informal panel chat about the history of Deptford which I am depicting in some huge collages (example above). They have some fascinating insights so please come along. At the end of the talks there will be chance to paint a log slice and take it home. They make great coasters! Example coming to this page soon.

Also must thank all the people of Deptford I have met over the years, including those I’ve chatted with while making my photo series over a decade on Deptford High Street. Its a unique and inspiring place thanks its people past and present.