The past month or so, I’ve become more acquainted with the farm and - given my horrible sense of direction - have finally built an internal map and more or less know my way around.

In this post, I will describe the process of making drawing charcoal and charcoal ink from willow branches gathered at Stampwell Farm.

On Tuesday 3rd August, a gathering was hosted by Marcus Walker in St Bartholomew the Great, London’s oldest parish church, to launch a campaign to “Save the Parish”…

This post will focus on the foraging, making, and experimenting with inks I have done over the past few weeks.

A few times this week in the mid afternoon the sun has cast a long and liquid golden light over the fields. It is about the only time my otherwise filthy dog can look sweet and fluffy. But this amazing light doesn’t just bathe the autumn leaves in a burnished beauty, it also stretches out our shadows far and long…

I’m beginning this blog as a way to track my thoughts and works during my time as artist in residence at Latimer Minster. Some posts will be longer explorations of art and theology, and others will be short snippets of current work and happenings around the Minster.

One of the revelations of this last year has been the outdoors. We have defined our relationships with God, with church and even work, far to closely with buildings, even to an extent which cannot really be supported by scripture. “Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” Join the birds and try singing!!

As Mark Twain said: “Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.”

“What do you do in a broken world - just love people! Sometimes you are lucky to see them spread the love too…”

Come to me,all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28