Associate Q&As with Wig Sayell

Introduction

I live and work in North Oxfordshire. I studied Fine Art many years ago, and I still work within its loose framework, experimenting with various media, including: film; experimental digital and analogue photography; drawing; mixed media. 

What are you currently working on?

As an artist who works  also in education and community outreach I found that COVID gave me time and took away my time. My opportunities to fulfil commissions and create work for exhibition have lessened, but the upside to this is that pressure on me to constantly produce work for public engagement has been removed. I have taken this opportunity to explore elements of my practice with which I have fallen out of step, such as drawing from natural objects.  Oddly, returning to private  experimentation, and its ironic freedom, has led to public outcomes:  I have just made some lumen print drawings for an exhibition in a gallery in Machynlleth, Wales. 

I am now looking to combine the techniques involved in this work with drawing and painting onto photographic paper. With this, I return to freedom, line, experiment, within the confines of my home: I am taking my time at the moment, and not too concerned about exhibiting.

Where do you work? Do you have studio space?

I wish! Sadly no studio space as such, but I can work at home in my conservatory. OK, this  is boiling in Summer and freezing in Winter, and a little bit plastic, but it does allow me to feel like I am outside in the garden, which is inspiring. My conservatory is a place that feels good to be in. I don’t know if I’m getting there, but I am experimenting, and looking. As I mention below, I teach some online art classes in there too, as a community outreach tutor. 

Sometimes it can feel like that is intruding on my work:  surely there should be a clear distinction between my outreach work and my art?  Actually, it works the other way: as all teacher/practitioners will tell you, teaching is always a great way to learn new things oneself, and inspiration tends to hit from unexpected angles. In any case, my practice has always worried oppositions between dominant categories in art: photography and painting; high and folk; experimental and traditional; community and outsider.   

I am also able to use the darkroom at Banbury and Bicester College, which allows me some space and quietness to think and experiment. 

What are your other (work) commitments if any?

As discussed above, as well as raising my children, I work as a community outreach tutor across Oxfordshire. This is a wonderful job. I inspire other people from many different backgrounds to be creative and undertake art and craft projects. I meet so many amazing people and watch them benefit from being creative and taking on various challenges that improve their mental and physical wellbeing. 

What are you hoping to achieve over the next year?

 I will continue to experiment and play with introducing mixed media to my own darkroom prints, creating perhaps more abstract landscapes. I want to know more about using paint and colour - I probably need another lifetime to explore this! And I am also interested in working on more community based art projects. I have lived all around the country, and have always found a way to be inspired by the landscape. Weirdly, despite Oxfordshire’s beauty and history, I have never really found my hook. I need to work on this, or, perhaps, fix on somewhere else for my inspiration, thinking, and practice.  

Tell us a little bit about the work of an artist or arts organisation/ collective that you find inspiring

I find the work of Laura Cannell fascinating. I think that she has such an innovative approach to exploring sound. She is inspired by the natural world, using collected recordings throughout her pieces, and also working collaboratively both with other composers and musicians. She is so inspiring to listen to at home by the fire, or when I am working. In one sense, her work always focuses on one thing: birds. But this enables her so many different avenues to explore, both conceptually and in sound. She has found her thing, and is now working through it, and that is inspiring to watch.

Describe the last time you felt inspired

Probably listening to Laura Cannell! Her work helps me to focus on what I am doing at that time, whether drawing or working on a craft project. I also feel very inspired by Art Refuge, whom I got to know from a Zoom discussion. As an exhibition experience, it feels quite dry, but through getting to know the organisers, their aims and motives, I always read their Facebook posts, and see what new experiences are proffered by the participants. 

What is your opinion of the current art scene in Oxford?

I think that it is pretty good - and typically like Oxford being from grass roots level. As a photographer, The Photo Oxford has been particularly of interest to me, and I enjoyed being able to exhibit work (online) during lockdown. It is also friendly and welcoming - anyone can get involved! Fusion Arts is another place I wish that I lived nearer to!

How do you feel the arts benefit society?

It seems such a cliche to say this now - but who knew how much the Arts were needed during lockdown? The Arts have an enormous role in sustaining society at every level. I feel equally guilty in taking creativity in its many guises for granted, but also now take such pleasure in hearing new music with renewed intensity. Creativity can be everywhere and in everyone, how amazing has it been to see this manifest and be openly embraced and shared.