Gathering and Reflecting

For several years I've been researching 'The Path*'. Observing, recording, documenting, and sometimes sharing my findings. When I say researching - I really mean just wandering about, noticing. In essence very similar to much of the consulting work I do, at least the interesting and useful stuff.

As this research continues I am realising a couple of things.

First - I am becoming more interested in specifics. For example - I've been logging information about butterfly sightings since 2022, but it's only this year I've decided to record not just what I've seen, but when and where. Slowly building more detailed ‘maps’ of my experience.

Second - I want to turn this research into something artful. Actually - it's more than a want - it's a need. Since I created my first fully handmade book last year, I've become fascinated with the idea of books as containers that may hold all kinds of....wonder. And so I'm currently conceiving ideas about how to combine my research and recordings into something 'publishable'. I put that word in speech marks because whatever artefact emerges from these ideas, it will contain hand made elements, and as such - publishing it will literally be a part of the process. I will use machines for reproducing photographs and writing, but some of the printing will be done by me, by hand, and I've other ideas I want to incorporate, watch this space as they say.

*The Path is in fact many paths. Mostly these paths are local to me, others further afield, all connected in some way.

And in case you are interested.

Photo 1: Comma, Queen Mary's Woodland 13th April 2025

Photo 2: Speckled Wood, Queen Mary's Woodland 13th April 2025