Earth Trust Residency
Great Crested Newt, lichen ink and watercolour on paper, 2024
Nicola recently completed an Artist Residency at Earth Trust, Oxfordshire.
During her residency she explored the creative potential of materials gathered from the site, developing her own clay slips and natural inks to produce artwork with a direct connection to the land.
Her work was inspired by the incredible, diverse and sometimes surprising wildlife that can be found here on our doorstep, using her time at Earth Trust to create a mosaic that will be displayed in-situ amongst the Earth Trust's public walking trails.
One of over 50 Great Crested Newts counted during a licensed survey at one of Earth Trust’s ponds. Photo taken by Nicola who is currently working towards her own license so that she can continue to help survey and protect these tiny dragons for the future.
Tiny Dragons
Nicola’s residency became focused on the Great Crested Newt, a protected species that is able to thrive at the sites under Earth Trust’s care.
These tiny dragons are incredibly vulnerable to habitat loss, but Nicola is celebrating the success of Earth Trust’s conservation work in the mosaic she has created for the site.
An Ink Diary
Nicola documented her time at Earth Trust with a visual diary of ink illustrations and drawings.
See some of the work created by following @nicolafielding and @earthtrust on Instagram.
Take a look at the gallery below for some diary highlights!
