SPOTLIGHT: Artist in Residence - Josephine Birch
JOSEPHINE BIRCH - artist in residence
Tell us a little about yourself
I’m an artist/illustrator specialising in printmaking and drawing on location. I studied for my BA and MA at Cambridge School of Art and for a postgraduate diploma with the Royal Drawing School. Both of these institutions fostered in me a love of drawing outdoors, in all weather, whilst bringing imagination and storytelling to the process. Works made in situ are finished on location, and then brought back to the studio to inspire prints, picture books and graphic novels. I’ve exhibited around the world, most notably at Tsinghua Contemporary Illustration Expo, for The Forestry Commission’s centenary celebrations at Dartington and in The Best of the Drawing Year at Christie’s.
What is your role here at the Italian Garden?
The gardens, with their rich history, beautiful flora and fauna, and buildings, half-reclaimed by roaming wildlife, struck me immediately as an inspiring and wonderful opportunity for creative work. Over the coming year I will be documenting the changing seasons and the work of the volunteers, keeping notes and weaving the story of the gardens into works, through their atmosphere and sense of place. Using ink, dip pens, crayons and charcoal, I work on sheets of paper, sometimes taping pieces together so that I can make large scale works, folding up sections against the wind and rain, so that I can capture the gardens in all weather. The gardens offer a view into the past, and a place of restful contemplation, perfect for drawing and painting. I feel very privileged to be a part of the journey of the gardens and can’t wait to see how this perfect secret garden evolves.
“I feel very privileged to be part of the journey of the garden and can’t wait to see how this perfect secret garden evolves”
Want to know more about JOSIE, you can contact HER below
You can follow my journey on instagram @josephine_birch and read more about my work on my website.
WEBSITE: www.josephinebirch.net