Marchmont Makers

Anya joined us for a four-week residency supported by artist Charles Poulsen via a call out by Axis who support and encourage early career artists. As part of her practice Anya works with a variety of materials, typically creating sculptures and installations, which are used to produce artworks that could be described as forms of art-activism. Anya’s work at Marchmont included an eco-performance exploring our relationship to the dirt and the importance of topsoil regeneration. She was subsequently invited to Harrogate Art Fair to showcase the performance with co-creator Annabel Whightman.

Vanessa worked from our Tower Studio on a commission residency to create some of her signature oils inspired by Marchmont Estate, a particular focus were the owls who live on the Estate as well as the vegetable patch in the Walled Garden and the ancient Polwarth Kirk.

We were privileged to have Thomas Merrett staying at Marchmont, using our Old Squash Court studio to create a special commission based on his listener series; a beautiful set of sculptures exploring our relationship with the environment. The Listener for Marchmont will be made in bronze and is destined to live in our Home Wood. Updates on our News page for when the Listener will be installed.

Ade took over our Old Squash Court studio as part of a commission residency to create a limited run print inspired by Marchmont House, using lino drilling and cutting techniques to create fascinating detail. Staying with his young family, Ade had lots of help in the studio and explored the whole estate – including the view from the roof of Marchmont House.

Emma spent three weeks working from Fogo Cottage, the studio space set up by Rory McEwen thanks to a residency partnership with WASPS studios. Emma focussed on interconnectivity between history, art and society; looking into the links between objects, materials, forms and apparatus. “While interacting with the creative community here I’ve felt how important it is to cross pollinate others knowledge and differing crafts/practices. This lead to me learning woodturning with the Marchmont Workshop alongside getting etching inspiration from Rory McEwen’s lobster and developing patterns and motifs from Thomas Claytons plasterwork.”

Noel joined us on a residency in partnership with Society of Scottish Artists. His work responded to the pastoral landscape of the Marchmont Estate, particularly reflecting on the cycles of life and death in nature and our entanglement with the non-human. “This residency has been a fantastic opportunity to experiment with new ideas and processes. I have been greatly inspired by the incredible landscape and spaces of Marchmont and the creative community and I know my time here will influence my practice for many years to come.”