Current Artist
Jilly Morris
Resident: 2009-2010
Duration: 12 months
Artists Work
Artist Jilly Morris arrived at Highgreen in October. Jilly works in a variety of media such as porcelain, thread and wire and uses some traditional craft skills such as stitch and enamel to make her artwork.
She tells the story of her residency, experiences and events around her and in her developing artwork in her blog.
A self-imposed daily framework of gathering data of different sorts through long daily walks and then immediately creatively processing this information has been the basis of Jilly’s development of inspiration at Highgreen.
During these walks Jilly is gathering statistical data (number of steps, calories used, distance covered etc). She is also creating a video, a written walking diary and a photographic record of occurrences and encounters such as the ‘Feet that I Meet’ project.
So far impressions and feelings are expressed most immediately in the artist’s drawings and small relief pieces. Use of bitumen, blackening lead and other pigments builds texture and surface into which marks are made; some areas contain tightly packed detail and other areas sweeping gestural marks. Horse hair, nails, sheeps wool and bits of wire protrude providing three dimensions in other pieces.
Jilly Morris is also working on more ambitious larger-scale sculptural pieces – using a variety of materials in a quest to find ways of distilling and expressing her responses to the place and is also following long-felt desires to make particular personal pieces that she has not had the time to develop in the past.
To find out more about Jilly’s background and her work to date see www.jillymorris.co.uk
Work in the Community
Jilly has been hosting enamelling workshops for local people. Two beginner sessions were held before Christmas and, at the end of January, there were three mixed sessions. Later in February and early march there are more sessions which will enable people to experiement further and extend their skills.
Jilly is going to make a welcome panel for North Tynies centre in Bellingham. It will be made up of lots of enamel tiles. Most of these will feature drawings made by young children from Toddler groups in the area interpreted into enamel by Jilly. Other enamel tiles will be y members of a Parents Group who will be visiting Jilly's studio soon.
Come along to any open studio events being held this year to meet Jilly and see work in progress. Also keep up to date with her through her blog.
Check out Events section of this website for dates of events and workshops as they are arranged.
