The Ellentree
Today’s Photo from the Archives is a little different. This weekend is the 10th anniversary of turn the page Artists’ Book Fair. This incredible event, held under the beautiful glass atrium of The Forum in Norwich, holds a deeply personal and important place in my life.
When studying for my MA I applied for a table at turn the page, one I was lucky enough to be awarded. Every year after that I made the journey back, suitcase full of an increasing volume of work.
In 2017, turn the page founder Jules Allen asked if I would take over as the Creative Director of the fair. It was an honour to be asked, and the years I spent running turn the page were some of the most important and special of my career. I learnt more than I put into words, met some truly exceptional people, and grew as a person and as an artist.
But it isn’t my years running the event that stand out in my mind as I think about turn the page today. Instead, I find myself thinking of a piece of my work: The Ellentree. Making this book helped save me and launching it at turn the page remains one of my proudest achievements. I cannot thank Jules enough for inviting me to do so.
The photograph above is the title image from my book The Ellentree. It is, without doubt or question, one of my personal favourites among my photographs. I love every detail of the photograph. To me it is truly perfect.
The images below are of the book itself, a limited-edition artists’ book that tells the story of Evelyn and his search for the mythical Ellentree. The book explores themes of reality, seeing as believing, hope and the self.
I am in St Mawes in Cornwall this weekend, filming more seagrass footage for my project with the National Marine Aquarium. Heartbreakingly that means I cannot be in Norwich to enjoy this anniversary addition of turn the page Artists’ Book Fair. Exhibiting at turn the page was always a joy. Being Creative Director and looking after the fair for a moment in its history was amazing. I wish everyone involved in organising this year’s event, everyone exhibiting, and everyone visiting a magical time surrounded by books… but not as you know them.
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(Note: Every Thursday I share a photograph from my archives, along with a few words about the image. I hope you enjoy them. Thank you for your patience over the last few weeks as I recovered from covid, I am glad to be back with this weeks photo from the archives.)