Adam Rawlinson

I used the opportunity of the Aidan Threlfall trust award to undertake visual, field and contextual research, engaged within landscape through partaking in a self-led research project in the Scottish Highlands. I travelled around the North West of the Highlands, through Ullapool, Lairg, Poolewe, Torridon and Garve, visiting several National Nature Reserves such as Beinn Eighe and Corrishalloch Gorge. My research was underpinned by an interest in Lichen, of which these areas have an abundance, both in variety of species and quantity. Each destination was carefully selected for it’s unique geological and ecological qualities. I embarked upon mountain hikes, visited coastline areas and trekked through hills, rivers and forests to explore the landscape, recording data, images and using a hand lens to observe the rich wealth of lichen I came across. Throughout the weeks of constant travelling I developed a drawing practice as a means of instantly recording experience in a painterly language that could be utilised in the studio. This involved studies and sketches as well as more concise explorations into gesture, colour, form and space that would be later translated from oil pastel to oil paint on canvas. Resulting from this trip, I  created 74 drawings and sketches, made written works including an essay and used my findings, experiences and ideas developed on the trip to complete a large scale abstract painting back in the studio. Several of the drawings created during this trip have been exhibited at PAPER at Boardroom Committee Room, Glasgow and at FINGER! an exhibition that represented Paradise Works at The Manchester Contemporary. The subsequent painting, completed upon returning from the trip, has been donated to University of Salford Art Collection, where my work joins their ambitious and reputable permanent collection.

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