Through the Spring and Summer of 2023 I was artist-in-residence with the Crichton Carbon Centre (CCC) as part of their Peatland Connections Water Cycle project. “[CCC] combine scientific research, practical knowledge and direct-action to achieve real results in sustainability by leading the way in taking climate action and building climate resilience, keeping carbon where it belongs.”

The project was focussed around the catchment of the Upper Black Water of Dee and Cooran Lane in the Galloway Hills of south-west Scotland, embedding art into the ongoing process of scientific research into water quality in the area. This was a dream project for me, CCC were a friendly, enthusiastic and supportive bunch of people to work with. They really value the role art can play within scientific/ecological research and practice. AND it was in a remote and fascinating landscape requiring physical effort to even reach the site … it wasn’t for the faint-hearted!

During my residency I created a suite of soundworks (and accompanying notation) giving voice to the upland streams, and the factors negatively impacting them, to create a speculative sonic map of the residency location. The soundworks were played at the ‘Bog Banquet’ which celebrated the work of the wider Peatland Connections programme. For the banquet I also produced a gazetteer of place-names (and accompanying place setting cards) of the residency area.

More information about my residency (including links to my numerous blog posts) can be found on the Peatland Connections website and the soundworks can also be found on my Bandcamp page.