The judge of a successful residency for me, is the frequency with which I mention it in discussion with fellow artists, visitors to my studio, and even to my students in London. The breadth of connections and experiences one has on a residency doesn’t limit the conversations to the effect the residency had on my work, although this is sited often. It could be the structure and example set by the organisation that hosts you and within which you briefly embed yourself. It might be a story linked to another artist you worked alongside for the duration. Or even one of the extraordinary events that peppered my stay at Marchmont, not least Storm Arwen. Which ravaged the tree stock of the estate and threw us all into an extended power cut where community spirit was thoroughly tested.
Above image: Detail of Rumblingstone, 2021, Andy Harper, oil on linen, 81cm by 105cm. Completed at Marchmont House.
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