current projects

Over the winter weeks, I’ll be mentoring a team of young garden designers taking part in the RHS ’s schools Green Plan It challenge , 2019. I’m expecting to learn a lot.

Over the winter weeks, I’ll be mentoring a team of young garden designers taking part in the RHS’s schools Green Plan It challenge, 2019.

I’m expecting to learn a lot.

I’m delighted to have contributed to this exciting theatre production by Ad Infinitum . The show is now open at Bristol Old Vic , and will be touring throughout the autumn and winter.

I’m delighted to have contributed to this exciting theatre production by Ad Infinitum. The show is now open at Bristol Old Vic, and will be touring throughout the autumn and winter.

In September, I was invited to address the Translating Poetries Symposium , organised by the Poetry Translation Centre at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. Fertile ground for further, rich collaborations……

In September, I was invited to address the Translating Poetries Symposium, organised by the Poetry Translation Centre at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. Fertile ground for further, rich collaborations……

bookcover

I have contributed a chapter (9) to this terrific new volume on intersemiotic translation, edited by Ricarda Vidal and Madeleine Campbell, published by Palgrave Macmillan. It’s in bookshops now.

The translation duel Sue MacLaine and I went head to head in translating Paul Scott's BSL poem 'Snowflake (Snowflake of Hope)' at Ledbury Poetry Festival , 2018.

The translation duel

Sue MacLaine and I went head to head in translating Paul Scott's BSL poem 'Snowflake (Snowflake of Hope)' at Ledbury Poetry Festival, 2018.

Translating signed sensations into concrete page poetry 'To Greet an Autumn Morning in a Sign Language' on display at the Torriano Meeting House, London. February, 2018

Translating signed sensations into concrete page poetry

'To Greet an Autumn Morning in a Sign Language' on display at the Torriano Meeting House, London. February, 2018

Translating concepts and insights into academic articles A sample of publications in which my writing appears. There are ten further journal publications, and a couple of hardbacks that can be added to this pile.

Translating concepts and insights into academic articles

A sample of publications in which my writing appears. There are ten further journal publications, and a couple of hardbacks that can be added to this pile.

Translating image into sound

After my PhD identified the rhythmic patterning of image as a significant feature of Signart, I played with translating this repetition of images into a soundscape, so that hearing people might better appreciate the intricate beauty of Signart as a form. To realise this project, I collaborated with Paul Scott, Victoria Punch, VS1 Productions, Helen Dewberry and Chaucer Cameron. The piece premièred at Ledbury Poetry Festival, 2016 then featured at Bristol Poetry Festival later the same year.

Translating movement into text

A cine-poetry translation I made for the Scottish Poetry Library, in 2014. For this, I collaborated with poets Gary Quinn and Christine de Luca. The original language of Gary's poem is British Sign Language (BSL). I provided a carefully skeletal yet syntactically structural guide translation for Christine, who then produced her English and Shetlandic poetic responses. The dynamic captioning is intended to bridge the gap between the properties of the BSL and English poems. The film was shown in the Scottish Parliament in the weeks prior to the passing of the historic British Sign Language (Scotland) Act of 2015. The work has since been included in the anthology Stairs and Whispers: Deaf and Disabled Poets Write Back (Nine Arches, 2017).

Translating song into BSL performance

Interpreting for Annie Lennox's impromptu open-air concert at the Heldenplatz, Vienna, during the World Aids Conference, 2010. This clip was recorded by a member of the 100,000+ audience.

Translating Signart into a public drawing installation For 'Action/Assemblage: Drawing Together (A Happening)', I combined action writing and the graphic drawing of HATCH artists and the public, to translate the British Sign Language (BSL) poetry performances of Paul Scott and Richard Carter into a live, situated artwork. Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, 2013. Photography by Alice Hendy .

Translating Signart into a public drawing installation

For 'Action/Assemblage: Drawing Together (A Happening)', I combined action writing and the graphic drawing of HATCH artists and the public, to translate the British Sign Language (BSL) poetry performances of Paul Scott and Richard Carter into a live, situated artwork.

Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, 2013.

Photography by Alice Hendy.

Translating empty space into conversation movement.language.line.sign (May, 2016). Is the poet in the poem? Playing with that question, I staged a 3 day takeover of Tamarin Norwood 's residency at Spike Island , Bristol. Tamarin's empty studio was populated by three giant projections of Paul Scott performing his BSL poem 'Three Queens'. No translations were given; the only clues were 3 B/W images on the walls. The effect was haunting, and provocative, as the crowd as the closing Q and A testified.

Translating empty space into conversation

movement.language.line.sign (May, 2016). Is the poet in the poem? Playing with that question, I staged a 3 day takeover of Tamarin Norwood's residency at Spike Island, Bristol. Tamarin's empty studio was populated by three giant projections of Paul Scott performing his BSL poem 'Three Queens'. No translations were given; the only clues were 3 B/W images on the walls. The effect was haunting, and provocative, as the crowd as the closing Q and A testified.

Translating theory into experience I’m beginning my bio-dynamic herb garden practice (see @GardenUnplugged) with an autoethnographic investigation of my own body’s response to biodynamic forces, like the moon. I’m investigating ashtanga yoga as a tool to access these responses, and keeping a herbal journal. There’s more of this autoethnnographic investigation in my blog. Image:googleimages

Translating theory into experience

I’m beginning my bio-dynamic herb garden practice (see @GardenUnplugged) with an autoethnographic investigation of my own body’s response to biodynamic forces, like the moon. I’m investigating ashtanga yoga as a tool to access these responses, and keeping a herbal journal. There’s more of this autoethnnographic investigation in my blog.

Image:googleimages

[e]n-gauge A network of tiny residencies, in collaboration with Lynn Imperatore , Pat Jamieson , Anwyl Cooper-Willis and Fiona Winning . Image: detail, Lynn Imperatore

[e]n-gauge

A network of tiny residencies, in collaboration with Lynn Imperatore, Pat Jamieson, Anwyl Cooper-Willis and Fiona Winning.

Image: detail, Lynn Imperatore

Translating a diary into a lipstick installation Social Butterfly: diary in Coco Rouge 25. Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2013. Photography by Sheila Masson .

Translating a diary into a lipstick installation

Social Butterfly: diary in Coco Rouge 25.

Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2013.

Photography by Sheila Masson.

Translating discarded household materials into a feminist statement Detail: 'Integration III'. Triptych using painted wooden shelves, reclaimed nails, screws, bolts and metal, copper wire, copper leaf, blackboard paint, blowtorch and needle etching. Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2013. Photography by Sheila Masson .

Translating discarded household materials into a feminist statement

Detail: 'Integration III'. Triptych using painted wooden shelves, reclaimed nails, screws, bolts and metal, copper wire, copper leaf, blackboard paint, blowtorch and needle etching.

Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2013.

Photography by Sheila Masson.

Translating a human figure into marks on paper Figure sketch in charcoal and florist's cellophane, 2012. SOLD

Translating a human figure into marks on paper

Figure sketch in charcoal and florist's cellophane, 2012. SOLD

Translating a name into marks on human skin The form of my tattoo emerged from the movement of spelling my name in American Sign Language. The location of the tattoo references the old Celtic tradition of the poet's mantle. Photography by Sheila Masson

Translating a name into marks on human skin

The form of my tattoo emerged from the movement of spelling my name in American Sign Language. The location of the tattoo references the old Celtic tradition of the poet's mantle.

Photography by Sheila Masson

Translating an interview into a stitched map 'A Tale Told and Retold' is a stitched map, visually translating the turns and returns of talk in a narrative interview. The interviewee was recalling a stressful incident, and was switching rapidly between a number of related topics and perspectives. Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2012. Photography by Sheila Masson .

Translating an interview into a stitched map

'A Tale Told and Retold' is a stitched map, visually translating the turns and returns of talk in a narrative interview. The interviewee was recalling a stressful incident, and was switching rapidly between a number of related topics and perspectives.

Exhibited at Art's Complex, Edinburgh, 2012.

Photography by Sheila Masson.

Translating wild grasses into...(tba) I have been looking into traditional Hebridean weaving practices, and am much taken by the beauty of the kreel. I have begun drying some of the grasses from my Hebridean garden. So far, I have some willow withies ( Salix alba , I think), some nettle stalks ( Urtica dioica ), brambles ( Rubus fruticosus ), red docken ( Rumex obtusifolius ), and marram grasses ( Ammophilia arenaria ) dried, and ready for working. I just need to find the time to begin weaving…

Translating wild grasses into...(tba)

I have been looking into traditional Hebridean weaving practices, and am much taken by the beauty of the kreel. I have begun drying some of the grasses from my Hebridean garden. So far, I have some willow withies (Salix alba, I think), some nettle stalks (Urtica dioica), brambles (Rubus fruticosus), red docken (Rumex obtusifolius), and marram grasses (Ammophilia arenaria) dried, and ready for working. I just need to find the time to begin weaving…

Translating raw fleeces into rug My lovely Hebridean neighbour, Katrina, has kindly given me a few fleeces. I never worked with raw wool before and am planning to start with the basics- just making a simple raw weave rug on a basic dowel loom. For the meantime, though, I’m just happy sniffing the fleece… Image: googleimages

Translating raw fleeces into rug

My lovely Hebridean neighbour, Katrina, has kindly given me a few fleeces. I never worked with raw wool before and am planning to start with the basics- just making a simple raw weave rug on a basic dowel loom. For the meantime, though, I’m just happy sniffing the fleece…

Image: googleimages

Translating flora into colour And I'm beginning to play with the non-fibrous properties of plants, too: dyes, inks, oils .. Image:googleimages

Translating flora into colour

And I'm beginning to play with the non-fibrous properties of plants, too: dyes, inks, oils ..

Image:googleimages

Translating a plot of land into a herbal pharmacy During 2018-19, as part of my studies towards a Diploma in Herbology , I had the privilege of curating and tending a small area within the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh . I used the space to raise awareness of the health detriments of excessive use of digital devices. The project had its own outreach Twitter account, @GardenUnplugged. From the plants grown on my little plot, I developed a number of herbal products to alleviate the symptoms of ‘ Electronic Screen Syndrome ’. Although the space has now passed to the new first year students, I continue with my studies, and also my ethnobotany practice. The Twitter account has now been replaced by the ‘ Ethnobotany ’ blog on this website.

Translating a plot of land into a herbal pharmacy

During 2018-19, as part of my studies towards a Diploma in Herbology, I had the privilege of curating and tending a small area within the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. I used the space to raise awareness of the health detriments of excessive use of digital devices. The project had its own outreach Twitter account, @GardenUnplugged.

From the plants grown on my little plot, I developed a number of herbal products to alleviate the symptoms of ‘Electronic Screen Syndrome’.

Although the space has now passed to the new first year students, I continue with my studies, and also my ethnobotany practice. The Twitter account has now been replaced by the ‘Ethnobotany’ blog on this website.

Translating youthful enthusiasm into garden design Over the winter weeks I’ll be working with a team of young folks in a Scottish school, mentoring their submission to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Green Plan It challenge . I’m expecting to learn a lot.

Translating youthful enthusiasm into garden design

Over the winter weeks I’ll be working with a team of young folks in a Scottish school, mentoring their submission to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Green Plan It challenge.

I’m expecting to learn a lot.

Translating flowers into scientific documents I'm making botanical field sketches, and measured drawings of the flora that's popping up....

Translating flowers into scientific documents

I'm making botanical field sketches, and measured drawings of the flora that's popping up....

Translating flora into potions And I'm beginning to play with the non-fibrous properties of the plants, too: dyes, inks, oils ..

Translating flora into potions

And I'm beginning to play with the non-fibrous properties of the plants, too: dyes, inks, oils ..