from the ground up, 2025
An explorative investigation into the materiality of the Peak District National Park.
My practice is deeply rooted in the geology and landscape of the Peak District, the area that shaped me. I draw inspiration from the natural environment, both above and under the ground, exploring this unique location’s rocks, stones, crags, and earth.
From the Ground Up, A short film
Below is my final film as part of my resolution for this unit. This film shows the processes and methodologies of working outside in the landscape that is my inspiration and work setting. By documenting each step of making my final outcomes, from gathering research from the millstones of the Peak District, to using those stones as an outdoor substitute for a workshop, I am conveying the possibilities of having a craft practice that is formed and created in the outdoor landscape where the materials originate.
context film
Below is my context film for Synthesis & Resolution. It shows the parallels of working both below and above ground, and how my context lies in each simultaneously. This film, alongside my practice as a whole, is a dedication to the geology and materiality of the Peak District and the people who have inspired me along the way. I hope to convey the sense of beauty and deep respect that I hold for the land in all its forms.
Critical reflection
From the Ground Up is my unwavering commitment to sustainability, an explorative investigation into the materiality of the Peak District National Park. Through the journey of exploration, uncovering unique clay in the caves of the landscape, and investigating this site-specific material's capabilities, this project has been an all-encompassing discovery into the beauty of the earth in its raw state and the importance of keeping it that way.
The geology of the land, stones, grit, and clay is more than just the root of my making. My way of life, inspiration, and deeply personal connections with the land since early childhood is the main motivation of my craft. I have developed my relationship with the natural earth that I have grown up around, and, in turn, gained a more profound knowledge of how craft can take the form of many different elements. For me, the journey and the process of making with clay is the firm structure of my practice, and I strongly believe this should be as respected and honoured as the final product. To be part of the clay's journey at every stage of its course, investigating the materiality in such a way that it becomes embedded in my roots, a connection that I bring with me into each stage of the clay’s development, from deep in the ground to the formation of the products.
I cherish the circularity that my practice holds, from starting points of inspiration to the landscape of the Peak District, to working with clay from caves of the same area, to then bringing that clay above ground to work within the geological regions of the landscape which holds a deep connection to my upbringing in the Peak District.
With my focus being on the rich history of millstones, the most iconic feature of the Peak District National Park, I have questioned human interference of the natural landscape and the juxtaposition between spaces of the land, which are created by unnatural precision and structure, compared to those which are left wild and full of life. Thus, reflecting both the symbolism of the environment and the production of my making.
Over the course of this unit the experience has given me the breadth to discover the wider potential of my craft in more experimental ways than I first anticipated. I formed a group collective as part of the Holden Gallery commission, Common Ground, which has seen collaboration with the shared approach of connecting people to the earth's natural materials through tactility and visual sensuality. This led to my practice sitting in a much more communal, interdisciplinary style, which I am excited to progress in my craft after university.
Adding to this, I wish to contribute in pushing the boundaries of craft by bringing awareness to the importance of locality and sustainability during the global climate emergency. It is my legacy, just as those before me, to create a positive imprint on the earth, which honours the land with so much to offer us. To work in harmony with the earth, which I hold such value and connection, I acknowledge the caves of the Peak District for allowing an interpersonal connection between geology and craft to be formed.
Gritstone and marbled
Marbled with ivory and cave
Marbled almington and cave
Gritstone Glaze
Marbled almington and cave
Work on display for submission
For the degree show, I will be creating a larger board with more shelves, with the hope that twice the number of tiles can be showcased on the curated wooden shelves. This will also be exhibited alongside my short film to show the circularity of my project.
I will also be exhibiting in the Holden Gallery throughout the degree show. To see my development and resolution for this project, follow the link below.
