My work and research has wound its way back to mining. But it’s sort of connected into a broader theme of contemporary artists’ and wider culture’s current obsession with archeology.

I recently replied to an old friend and work colleague, Patricia Cain, as part of a conversation regarding a paper she was preparing following her conference presentation and exhibition: Body of Knowledge: Art and Embodied Cognition Conference 2019. She is exploring first-person methodologies in research, particularly in connection with neurodiversity, and valuing and enabling difference in society, including within research structures.

​So, I've cleared the decks, and am now looking at new subject matter: evidence of industry in out of the way places. I have always had a fascination with industrial landscapes, having grown up with it in my family.

Back in 2007, I made a series of works based around a scrapyard. It was full of life and interesting colours and shapes. I'm now turning my eye to Cumbria's industrial identity. This is how I'm defining the project.

• Industry as defined as 'hard work', encompassing domestic, wartime, and children's jobs, as well as more conventional activity such as manufacturing and mining.
• Site specific - all industry, from all time, but with a deliberate focus on out of the way places, such as above 200m. Mountainous regions such as Cumbria, have attracted certain types of industries and work, and the nature of these is very unique due to the geography of the area.

I'm holding skills sessions for beginners at M J Cabinetmakers near Keswick. They'll be once a month. Click here for the full programme.