West Dean College

I attended the first of several short courses at West Dean College, made possible through support from my Arts Council England Develop Your Creative Practice (DYCP) award.

Set within the beautiful surroundings of West Dean, the course provided a valuable opportunity to step away from the day-to-day demands of studio practice and dedicate time to reflection, experimentation and new ways of thinking. Led by Matthew Harris, the course encouraged participants to question familiar approaches, explore materials in different ways and embrace the unexpected possibilities that emerge through making.

One of the most valuable aspects of the experience was having the space to focus on a specific area of my practice without the pressure of an immediate outcome. Time to observe, test ideas and allow new connections to develop often feels like a luxury, yet it is an essential part of creative growth.

The DYCP award was designed to support artists in developing their practice, and this opportunity felt like a perfect example of that purpose in action. The course challenged me to look differently, think differently and consider new directions for future work.

I am incredibly grateful to Arts Council England for supporting this period of professional development and to Matthew Harris for his generous guidance throughout the course.

The experience has left me with ideas, renewed confidence and a growing collection of notes, sketches and observations that will undoubtedly find their way into future projects.