As Davina Jelley hands over the SAW blogger baton, it seemed a good place to start my blog residency by planning a walk in the heart of Exmoor with Davina and Chris Jelley and their dog Fable. I was keen to hear about Davina’s experience of producing a monthly blog and to learn more about her process. It also seemed appropriate as we’d met up on Exmoor a year ago when Davina was planning her first blog for 2019. We’d talked about our favourite literature and a love of walking, drawing, and plans for the 2019 Art Weeks Festival, so there was a neat symmetry to starting again from Exmoor. One of the things which had surprised me about that walk was how talking and exploring ideas over a few hours in a relaxed environment can yield rich connections and new ideas, a good way to recharge creativity.

 

 

We met one morning, late in January, in Simonsbath, with the aim of walking along the River Barle, to Cow Castle, an Iron-age hillfort on an isolated knoll in the Barle valley. It was a beautiful, bright, crisp day, a welcome relief from the unrelenting rain of winter and there was an anticipation of discovery and the possible new associations and connections that talking and walking might bring. My plan was to ask Davina some questions as we walked, to gain some insights into how she wrote her blog posts and what makes for a good read. As we set out from Simonsbath and made our way, high above the Barle, the conversation ranged from admiring our surroundings to talking about our plans for the coming year- the carefully prepared questions were cheerfully forgotten, remaining in the back of my sketchbook in the bottom of my rucksack. There would be plenty of time to find out more over lunch and for now, to just enjoy the walk. As a poet interested in place, folklore and storytelling, Chris is a knowledgeable and entertaining guide, telling us that the regularly- spaced beech trees in the surrounding woods were once a nursery for some of the hedges which form the enclosures across the moor.

 

 

Heading towards the intriguingly-named Picked Stones, Davina and Chris told me more about their plans for this year. For those of you unfamiliar, they run Number Seven Dulverton, a treasure trove of art and storytelling located in the heart of Exmoor, with ceramics, jewellery, stained glass, prints and paintings, all reflecting the changing seasons- an inspiring and rewarding diversion if you are in the area. They also have a Walking Book Club and host some special events throughout the year- and this year they have something extra special lined up, to be announced soon!

 

 

Cow Castle eventually revealed itself, isolated, in an unusual setting amongst the surrounding hills, but our route took us beyond and on towards Withypool before we eventually looped down to the River Barle and then back towards the castle, with the promise of a spot for lunch. As well as being an accomplished guide, Chris is also a gourmet field chef and after gathering kindling to start a small fire on the bank of the river, welcome cups of tea were passed around, followed by smoked fish and bread rolls! This seemed like a good time to focus on the questions so I asked Davina about her blog posts.

 

 

Davina surprised me by revealing that she didn’t rely on note taking too much and has a good recall. She also explained that the discipline of writing a post each month had provided an opportunity to develop her photographic skills. Davina has covered many different events for SAW, from Open Studios and Festival launches, to project development and workshops, and studio visits. Sometimes these have provided technical challenges, depending on the environment, situation and time of day but it appeared that Davina had relished the opportunity to learn more and push her process. The development of online platforms has also given her an outlet for her photographic output. She revealed that she constructed her blog posts around the photos, using them to guide the narrative. This seemed like a good idea and one worth continuing- something that can work for many of us who maybe see the world more visually. Her working method involved a day at her writing desk, with a walk before hand to clear the mind. Davina also wanted to thank the many artists who have welcomed her into their creative spaces over the years and shown trust in her writing, as well as for being allowed to be the voice of SAW, but with the freedom to provide her own perspective when writing the posts.

 

 

As the winter light started to dip slightly, with occasional distractions such as dippers skimming along the Barle, and herons, buzzards and ravens passing unhurriedly overhead, we meandered back to the start of our walk. The low light revealed the curious outlines of some of the hills which protrude into the valley floor and all around us were traces of industrial activity, if you knew where to look. Passing the remains of Wheal Eliza cottage, Chris pointed out a nearby spoil heap as well as the route of a leat which ran along the opposite side of the riverbank, just above the river.

 

 

Following the river back towards Simonsbath, I wondered how I would go about putting the words to paper- would I remember everything? What was the most important thing to say? I realised that I would need to find my feet as well as my voice and this would happen over time. I hadn’t taken any notes, or voice recordings, safe in the knowledge that I could check things if I needed to, but that I wouldn’t always be in that position. We paused by a crook in the river, as it wound around the base of the hill on which Cow Castle sits, and watched as the Barle flowed over a stone in the middle of the river, refilling and emptying a small pool inscribed in it’s surface. Mesmerised and watching the river move in this way, being itself, I knew not to think too much and that the answers, as ever, always come…

 

 

Having written my first post, I can say that my factual recall is not perfect, although the memory of Chris’s freshly cooked riverside fish, good conversation and time well spent will remain for a long time!

 

lead image by Chris Jelley

words and black and white images by Paul Newman

numbersevendulverton.co.uk

jelley.info

Published on February 17, 2020 // artweeks