Katy has embarked on a series of collaborative exchanges, which have seen her driving all over the country for stays in cabins, bothies and cottages as part of her creative mission. This venture was inspired by her art history background and particular interest in the 18th-century art and architecture of Britain. Katy specialised in this era during her undergraduate studies, which is when her love affair with plaster casts was born.[
In the 18th century, small plaster intaglios were collected by young aristocratic men on their European travels as keepsakes documenting their erudite travels. The intaglios were often mounted in cases or books and proudly presented to guests or peers as signals of their wealth and classical education. Katy’s intention was to undertake her own Grand Tour and also to take some female ownership of a tradition, which was originally almost entirely undertaken by men.[
Katy sets up her temporary outdoor studio in each new location and forages for local native flora and fauna to make a set of intaglios. These will eventually create a visual record of the landscape of Britain by capturing a moment in the seasonal life of the landscape where she stays. In a time of ever-changing patterns in nature and weather, it seems an important time to document the seasonal foliage and preserve a memory of the indigenous flowers and foliage in a time of increasing threat to our environment.
“I have loved travelling the country, experiencing new landscapes, swapping artwork made onsite using flowers from the surrounding area, for a few nights in some truly beautiful cabins and huts.”
