“Farming has moved on too fast, we haven’t really been able to keep up. It’s a nice life, but you could always end up loosing everything you’ve built. So, they can say what they want about British farming, but at the end of the day - they all want food on the table.”
As the conclusion to my Art Foundation Diploma, this project offers a multifaceted visual investigation into arable farming in South West England. My question to the viewer: Is British farming a dying craft?
This is assessed throughout the work whilst tapping into age-old practices, a convivial sense of community, and the jealousy of detached onlookers. It was my aim to use pictures to welcome you into the lives of an unfamiliar group, as they embraced me.
The Final Project
This book was a labour of love. The cover was formed from hand-dyed sheep’s wool, needle-felted into cow hide print. I wove the binding from collected bailer twine, and learned traditional Japanese techniques. The paper on which my images were printed was handmade from copies of The Wiltshire Farmer, grain, and soil collected from the Bradford-on-Avon dairy farm I photographed.
