A Sense of Place

A Sense of Place is a site-responsive project developed in early 2022, exploring the emotional and psychological relationship between environment and identity. Rooted in personal experience, the work centres on Mann Dam Reservoir in West Yorkshire, a location that provided a sense of calm, reflection, and stability during a period of post-traumatic stress recovery.

The project began with an extensive phase of observational and sensory research, including drawing, mark-making, painting, sound walks, and material experimentation. Through these processes, the landscape was not only recorded visually but interpreted through texture, rhythm, and movement—capturing the subtle qualities that shape how a place is felt as much as how it is seen. Structural elements such as the viaduct and footpaths were analysed and abstracted, while lived experiences of walking the site informed a deeper understanding of spatial flow, memory, and connection.

This exploration culminated in the development of a large-scale sculptural concept, derived from the network of footpaths surrounding the reservoir. The final form translates these routes into an immersive, spatial structure—wrapping around the bridge as both a physical and symbolic gesture. It reflects the act of walking as a process of navigation, grounding, and personal restoration, transforming a familiar landscape into a sculptural language of movement and meaning.

A Sense of Place demonstrates an early commitment to using art as a means of processing experience and forging connection—an approach that continues to underpin the ongoing practice of The Rubbish Artist.