2024 Residents

Living by the sea I've been drawn from the shore to immersing myself in its depths, discovering the treasures that lie beneath.  I'm in awe of the beauty of the underwater habitat and the species found there and to have the privilege of  exploring it, especially  during the residency in the company of like minded artists. Add to this the importance of the  blue carbon stored in our coastal and marine ecosystems I can't fail to want to protect this place. I enjoy the challenge of trying to capture the shapes, movement and colour that I observe in my work to express and share this wonder.  

ARTISTS STATEMENT

Typically, I create jewellery from beach-combed ocean plastics —a practice driven by a curiosity for alternative narratives of marine waste. 

My experiences snorkelling and observing marine habitats during the Argyll Hope Spot Residency filled me with awe and fascination for the underwater world I drifted through each day, and, has inspired a shift in material language for this project. Though not a biologically accurate representation of Halidrys siliquosa (Sea Oak) draws inspiration from fleeting intangible encounters with this species, capturing the play of light, and the ever-shifting movement within the dynamic habitats I explored during the residency.

The treasures unearthed at tidelines have always fascinated me - shells, sea glass, mermaid’s purses and urchins - but the Hope Spot residency allowed me to bring my attention to the hidden natural wonders of the marine world just beyond the reach of land dwellers. I’m obsessed with seaweeds and their rich and varied forms, textures and colours, and I have been experimenting with collecting and pressing seaweed to reveal some of its secrets. Telling stories is at the heart of my work; through comics, making connections with people, nature and within myself to communicate something universal and often joyful. 

Harnessing the fluidity and serendipitous nature of watercolour and controlled and meditative use of fine-line pen, the work of artist Tamsin Ghislaine Cunningham explores the dialogue between natural elements, landscape, psyche and emotional terrain. Based on the west coast of Scotland,Tamsin’s work draws in particular on coastal environments and the pattern language, flow, motion and transmutability of water.

Employing a process of alternating between paint and pen, Tamsin’s works develop layer by layer, exploring the interplay between intuitive mark-making and geometry. Informed by the dialogue between her artistic practice and her work as an architect and inspired by the graphic language of early cartography, Tamsin’s work offers the viewer opportunity to explore the symbiotic relationship between nature, sensory experience and understanding of self.

Tamsin’s recent work focuses on the challenges and possibilities of effecting change at a personal and societal level during times of crisis and the lessons that observation of water can bring to this. Her recent work focussing on her relationship with the marine environment builds on an 18 year career exploring the role of architecture, temporary art installation, place-making interventions, writing, drawing and painting in catalysing change.

Viola is a freelance animator and illustrator specializing in projects focused on sustainability, education, and the arts. Her practice is informed by a passion for the marine environment, cultivated through diving and swimming. Inspired by her time at the Argyll Hope Spot, Viola's exhibited work presents a detailed study of a small underwater ecosystem observed on a jetty. Starting with observational underwater sketches, she developed a species identification guide and ultimately, an animated watercolour scene, displayed on the screen. This work highlights her interest in revealing the often-overlooked beauty of small-scale ecosystems. Also exhibited on the screen, her short animation "My Re-Enchantment", based on her underwater adventures in the west Scottish coast