Projects

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Only with a relationship and understanding of the natural world can we realistically engage with the challenges, both environmental and social, that we are presently facing. Peter Ward’s contemporary practice enables a realistic sense of connection, compassion and empowerment through the use of appropriately derived materials, and cross-disciplinary actions and events.

Over the past 20 years Peter’s internationally recognised environmental art practice has included painting, illustration, installation, residencies, workshops and interpretative displays for ecological education projects. He has conducted extensive research into the history, geology and uses of locally sourced earth pigments and has developed interdisciplinary projects and events to explore and celebrate our relationship within the natural world. In 2012 he completed an MA (Art & Environment) at University College Falmouth, receiving the Sandra Blow Award for Outstanding Achievement. Peter’s final MA project examined our relationship to natural resources – in particular sticks and wood – and the way art practice may be utilised to enable and transform our understanding and behaviour. 

Painting with Earth

Since people have made marks and symbols to express our relationship with life on earth we have used materials and colours gathered from our immediate surroundings. The use of such materials and an understanding of their history and formation may bring us, in a small way, to a new appreciation of our environment and the earth as a whole.

This ongoing project was initiated in 2008 with Appledore Visual Arts Festival and the Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon to research the geology, history, ecological implications and applications of earth pigments in North Devon, and has since expanded to include pigments from South Devon and Cornwall. It has subsequently resulted in a large body of internationally recognised interdisciplinary research, workshops, paintings, and presentations and involvement in further environmentally focused projects and publications.

Painting with Earth is presently based in Cornwall, focusing on pigments gathered from natural landforms and mining waste, where research and collaborations are being conducted with Exeter University (Environmental Sustainability Institute), Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall Wildlife Trust/Cornwall Geoconservation Group, The Leach Pottery, the Sandy Brown Museum and individuals locally and worldwide.

  • Painting with Earth: North Devon
  • kescows an bys / the earth talks: Cornwall
  • kescows an bys / the earth talks: priweythva / clay-works
  • The Story of Bideford Black
  • eARTh
  • Painting Together
  • painted FACE
  • Soil Culture
  • Soil Balls
  • CREATIVE EXCHANGE (painting a parish future)

Projects and Residencies

  • GNAP FRANCE 2017
  • A BUNDLE OF STICKS
  • the value of trees
  • ShortCourse UK
  • PEBBLE RIDGE
  • QUADRAT

Interpretative Displays

  • Salthouse
  • Pagham Harbour
  • Mount Street Project
  • Nettlecombe Court
  • FSC Rocky Shore Field Guide

Schools and Community Art Projects

  • Newport School Arts week
  • Lynton Youth Group Mural
  • Vision Community Centre, Ilfracombe
  • Bicclescombe Park, Ilfracombe

Publications

  • Field to Pallette
  • Soil Culture
  • GNAP France
  • Bideford Black 5 artists

Graphic Design & Logos

  • Stockmoor Cider Labels
  • Apricot Health Store
  • Healer
  • GeneSense
  • Book Design