The aim of the Spiral Greetings Cards Project is to celebrate and promote the diverse range of artists who have a connection to the Spiral Centre, and as a way to raise funds for Spiral activities and events.
Each artist has selected or created a piece of artwork which they feel reflects the ethos of the Spiral Centre. Currently fifteen artists have donated images which have been printed in the set of ‘Spiral themed’ greetings cards which can be bought at our events for £1.50 each.
The information below provides more details about each of the artists involved and their inspiration behind their chosen creations.
Green Man – Ann Pengelly
‘I am a stained glass artist and teacher with a large studio in Seaton where I have worked for the past 18 years. This is one example of the Green Man, which I have created in stained glass. The Green Man is an archetypal spirit of the wild woods and the symbol of pagan fertility often used at the Spiral’s May Day Celebrations.’
Energy Contours, East Hill- from the original acrylic painting on reclaimed MDF by Ann Janes
‘Making art over the past decade or so of my retirement has been about making creative discoveries through a variety of media including painting and printmaking. ‘Energy Contours’ evolved from an interest in combining painting a specific location together with its O.S map contour lines. It was much later that I came to appreciate the energy connection I had brought to life.’
LYMIA – Healer From The Sea – from an original painting by Elizabeth Richie
‘I have been painting for several years, but since retiring as an Acupuncturist, I now paint most days, mainly acrylic on canvas. I am an exhibiting member of the Town Mill Arts, Lyme Regis and have taken part in Artsfest for the past 8 years.’
‘Lymia – This mythical healer was described in The Lymiad, poems written by an unknown female author whilst visiting Lyme Regis in 1818. The painting was part of a project I created for Artsfest in 2013, which included a performance art piece and constructing a sculpture on the beach in Lyme.’
Green Man – made from driftwood collected from the beach by Ruth Bullock
‘I have always enjoyed DIY and after picking up driftwood, shells and flotsam and jetsam off local beaches I began making driftwood mirrors for friends. This has led to a stream of ideas and the creation of many other objects d’art. I have sold my creations at many table top sales and craft fairs and I have so far, held one exhibition. ‘
‘The main piece of wood which I found on Seaton beach was the inspiration for this Green Man. It seemed to have a naturally formed face peering out from it. From there it was a case of building up the driftwood ‘foliage’ around it to make it appear that the face is peeping out.’
Which Way – from an artwork made with mud, charcoal and natural materials by Sarah Bovey
‘Whilst using many different mediums in my artwork, I enjoy working outside and using natural materials. To me, the Spiral Sanctuary encompasses the spiritual and the natural environment. I take part in Devon Open Studios and am and have been involved in various art projects.’
‘Sitting in a wood, from one position facing north, then south, then east and finally west, I made four paintings of which this is one, using just charcoal and the natural materials around me – soil, water, vegetation etc’
Ammonite at Seaton Labyrinth – from the original photograph by Joy White
‘I am a landscape and portrait photographer, living near Axminster. My husband, Drew Yapp and I run the Light Gallery and Studio in Axminster. I love photographing the landscapes and seascapes of the South West, especially when working in black and white.’
‘This image is from the series of photographs which I made of the Seaton Labyrinth (a project initiated by the Spiral Centre), from its first markings out through to final completion in 2005. During this time I photographed the Labyrinth in bright sunshine, in pouring rain, at night under the stars and high up in a 25ft ‘cherry picker’! Through the series of photographs I have shown the Labyrinth in its beautiful landscape setting and also depicted small details, including the ammonite set in one of the lobes of the Labyrinth.’
Almond Blossom – Axmouth’s Community Woodland Orchard from the original photograph by Sarah Williams
‘I have been passionate about art & design throughout my life, and always have a creative project on the go. I have been involved in the Spiral Centre for many years and in 2008 I helped design the Community Woodland Orchard at Combe Farm.’
One of the trees I planted in the Woodland Orchard was an almond tree in memory of my Mum, and on Mother’s Day this year (8th March 2015) I took this photograph of its beautiful pink blossom which had just started to open up.’
In Support – from the original photograph by Anna White
‘I have been interested in photography since childhood. My first camera was a Kodak Brownie. I am particularly interested in black & white images and in the past have enjoyed processing and printing my own work. I lived in north London until eleven years ago where I was a member of a photo group that met one day a month. We staged a number of exhibitions in a small gallery. It was an interesting process, choosing, framing and hanging my photographs.’
‘I am fascinated by the natural world and look for patterns in animal and other natural forms, often using a close-up lens. I have found the ethos of the Spiral and the friendship of its many members to be of great benefit in troubled times. For this reason I decided on the image of a hand being held ‘in support’.’
Apple Cascade at Combe Farm’s Apple Harvest Celebration – Photography by Andrew Sweeting
‘I’m a television cameraman and through photography I enjoy the freedom of being able to explore and create with light to present an image of what my eye saw for one fraction of a second.’
‘Photographing Apple Harvest at Combe Farm in Axmouth has become a yearly tradition for me. On this occasion conditions were just right to contrast the apple trees abundant in fruit against a perfect blue sky, and by shooting from a low angle I was attempting to accentuate the perception that the apples were cascading downwards.’
Love & Light
This image is of a section of the Spiral Sanctuary rag rug hanging made by members of the Spiral Craft Group over six month period in 2010. The age range of those involved was from 37 to 90. The designs of each of the individual panels were inspired by Spiral activities and ethos.
Wild Spirits – From the original artwork by Karel Hughes
‘Following an academic career as an Earth Scientist my interest and passion has shifted from a scientific analysis of the natural world to exploring landscapes, wild horses and the human form through charcoal and paint.’
‘From interpreting and explaining landscapes and geological formations in the field and from satellite imagery, I am now interested in attempting to communicate the essence of a landscape, the sea or a heard of galloping wild ponies, the beauty and emotional intensity of the human form through mark making.’
Heaven and Earth: The Leap of Faith – Oil on gesso board 100 x 40 cms by Kate Ackerley 2010
‘I am an artist, healer, tutor and meditation facilitator. I am concerned with uncovering the blocks to potential and creativity in artists and all individuals. With my own creative and organic method, I support groups and individuals towards a freer response to the felt environment, towards a validation of their own creative self. My work in oils and pastels responds to the coast and countryside, and seeks to express the spirit of the place, rather than the place itself.’
‘Heaven and Earth is an intuitive response to the idea of bridging the perceived gap between the two realms. I was inspired by the wild clouds, one Easter day, moving across the vivid windy blue sky and the new bright green of Spring growth. I worked quickly, standing outside, using oil on gesso with my brush and hands for immediacy. I wanted to convey my feeling of hope, redemption and excitement about this: the possibility of connecting Heaven and Earth; of experiencing a oneness with all creation; and of the synthesis of the inner and outer journey of the soul’
Figures Standing in Light from the original painting by Kenneth Butler Evans (1924 – 1987)
Ken was inspired by inner visions he had as a healer. As a painter, he was self-taught although he was an illustrator and cartoonist for many years. As a sensitive, he allowed himself to sense what nature was feeling, particularly flowers, and tried to portray this in his work. Near the end of his life, he often saw figures of people around him as if they were asking for his help; he painted them and after he died he spoke to his wife, Ann, about his visions.
‘This painting is full of wonder and hope; even those unaware of it are on their way to the fullness of light and love.’ His words in the book, An Artist’s Life After Death.
Website: kenevansprints.co.uk
Spiral – Sculpture by Ann Ford Evans
‘I was trained in sculpture by my mother Millicent Gilbert who trained at Reading University and the Royal Academy Schools in the 1930’s. I also studied ceramics at Maria Assumpta Teachers’ College in Kensington, 1959 -61. I taught ceramics in schools and other groups. I love the sensation of working with clay and the ability it offers to build figures and shapes.’
‘My inspiration comes from trees and plants and the human form and spirit. This sculpture was inspired by the spiral and its upward movement, the feeling that two intertwining forms are both separate and yet make a complete whole.’
Website: gallery.myzen.co.uk/annford
Aborispiral – Digitally manipulated painting by Natasha Dickens
‘Originally from Tanzania, I’ve always felt drawn to Aboriginal art as dot and line paintings are quite commonly found in East Africa. Not only do I find it therapeutic to look at, it is also a very calming and creative process to indulge in. I found combing the circle of the dot and the circle of the spiral quite intriguing – especially the idea of using ancient simple shapes together but created with a very contemporary digital method.’
‘Specialising in portraits, I’ve been painting for over 20 years. I studied Fine Art at Loughborough University, Goldsmiths University and Kent Institute of Art & Design in Canterbury.’
The Spiral Centre Ltd, Combe Farm, Axmouth, Seaton, Devon EX12 4AU
Contact: Christina Bows on 01297 23822
or email the Administration team spiralcentreaxmouth@gmail.com
The Spiral Centre 