Past Exhibition
Geopark Artist Residency Exhibitions
Geopark Artist Residency Programme - A Local Heritage Grant Scheme Project Torbay’s landscape is a story told through deep time – etched in limestone cliffs, layered into red sandstone, and folded beneath the waves. It’s also a living place, shaped by centuries of human activity and cultural exchange. Through the Geopark Artist Residency Programme, four Devon-based artists have explored these complex narratives, responding through painting, printmaking, photography, installation and textiles to bring the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark to life in new and deeply personal ways. Following a series of residencies in autumn 2024 – two hosted at Torre Abbey and two at Artizan Gallery – this exhibition brings together the complete body of work for the first time, forming the final presentation of a project that celebrates the relationship between people and place, science and story, and the visible and invisible worlds beneath our feet. Artistic Journeys Through Torbay’s Heritage A Residency in Two Parts The programme, a collaboration between Artizan Collective CIC, Torre Abbey, and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, supported by the Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme, invited artists to work within two focused residency strands: one looking at the broader context of the Geopark; and one centred on the historic site of Torre Abbey. Earlier this spring, artists James Murch and Laura Segan presented their outcomes in a dedicated showcase at the Abbey, reflecting on cycles of decay and preservation through painting and experimental textile processes. Now, this expanded exhibition welcomes the work of two further artists, Gill Melling and Rachael Allain, whose practices interrogate marine environments, invisible ecologies, and the liminal thresholds between land and sea. Together, the four collections form a compelling and multi-sensory journey into Torbay’s past, present and future—revealing, questioning, and reimagining our place in the world. Torbay’s UNESCO Global Geopark The English Riviera Geopark is one of only seven in the UK and the only urban-based UNESCO Global Geopark. Its designation celebrates the area’s outstanding geological heritage, while also recognising how that geology has influenced culture, biodiversity, and human activity over 400 million years. The artists’ work sits within this broader framework, exploring environmental fragility, the impact of human behaviour, and the power of creativity to connect us more deeply to place. “Situated within the stunning, rolling hills of South Devon, Torbay’s geology has created the beautiful coastline of today, which fundamentally links the rich diversity of landscape with wildlife, people and culture.” — English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark The Artists and Their Work Gill Melling – Entanglements in Marine Environments Gill’s mixed media “entanglements” explore the critical role of seagrass habitats in marine health and climate regulation. Combining reclaimed materials, fishing debris, and organic matter, her work invites reflection on our dependence on fragile seabed environments and the tools we use to consume them. Rachael Allain – Above & Below the Horizon in the English Riviera Through experimental photography, digital imaging and microscopic exploration, Rachael captures the unseen dynamics of the intertidal zone. From rock pools to seagrass blades, she reveals a hidden world of biodiversity shaped by tidal movement and deep time. James Murch – Roots and Relics Through his open air painting practice, James has explored what happens when nature reclaims historic buildings. His large-scale works capture the tension between human preservation efforts and the unstoppable forces of nature, asking us to consider the legacy of sites like Torre Abbey. Laura Segan – Salt and Other Stories Working with textiles and experimental photography, Laura’s work explores the role of salt as both a destructive and preservative force. Using alternative photographic processes and botanical dyes sourced from Torre Abbey’s gardens, her work reflects on erosion, conservation, and cycles of life and decay. This programme is a collaboration between Artizan Collective CIC, Torre Abbey, and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. Funded by the Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme through National Lottery Heritage Fund Investment, with additional support from CAF; a government funding stream, administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), to protect treasured heritage assets in England from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and funding from Museum Estate Development Fund using public funds by Arts Council England Torbay Council and the Friends of Torre Abbey (FOTA).
📅 18 March – 22 June 2025
Launch
📍 English Riviera
Closed
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Two Exhibitions - One Story
Interpreting the Geopark Through Creative Practice
Geopark Artist Residency Programme - A Local Heritage Grant Scheme Project
Torbay’s landscape is a story told through deep time – etched in limestone cliffs, layered into red sandstone, and folded beneath the waves. It’s also a living place, shaped by centuries of human activity and cultural exchange. Through the Geopark Artist Residency Programme, four Devon-based artists have explored these complex narratives, responding through painting, printmaking, photography, installation and textiles to bring the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark to life in new and deeply personal ways. Following a series of residencies in autumn 2024 – two hosted at Torre Abbey and two at Artizan Gallery – this exhibition brings together the complete body of work for the first time, forming the final presentation of a project that celebrates the relationship between people and place, science and story, and the visible and invisible worlds beneath our feet.
Artistic Journeys Through Torbay’s Heritage
A Residency in Two Parts
The programme, a collaboration between Artizan Collective CIC, Torre Abbey, and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, supported by the Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme, invited artists to work within two focused residency strands: one looking at the broader context of the Geopark; and one centred on the historic site of Torre Abbey.
Earlier this spring, artists James Murch and Laura Segan presented their outcomes in a dedicated showcase at the Abbey, reflecting on cycles of decay and preservation through painting and experimental textile processes. Now, this expanded exhibition welcomes the work of two further artists, Gill Melling and Rachael Allain, whose practices interrogate marine environments, invisible ecologies, and the liminal thresholds between land and sea.
Together, the four collections form a compelling and multi-sensory journey into Torbay’s past, present and future—revealing, questioning, and reimagining our place in the world.
Torbay’s UNESCO Global Geopark
The English Riviera Geopark is one of only seven in the UK and the only urban-based UNESCO Global Geopark. Its designation celebrates the area’s outstanding geological heritage, while also recognising how that geology has influenced culture, biodiversity, and human activity over 400 million years.
The artists’ work sits within this broader framework, exploring environmental fragility, the impact of human behaviour, and the power of creativity to connect us more deeply to place.
“Situated within the stunning, rolling hills of South Devon, Torbay’s geology has created the beautiful coastline of today, which fundamentally links the rich diversity of landscape with wildlife, people and culture.”
— English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark
The Artists and Their Work
Gill Melling – Entanglements in Marine Environments
Gill’s mixed media “entanglements” explore the critical role of seagrass habitats in marine health and climate regulation. Combining reclaimed materials, fishing debris, and organic matter, her work invites reflection on our dependence on fragile seabed environments and the tools we use to consume them.
Rachael Allain – Above & Below the Horizon in the English Riviera
Through experimental photography, digital imaging and microscopic exploration, Rachael captures the unseen dynamics of the intertidal zone. From rock pools to seagrass blades, she reveals a hidden world of biodiversity shaped by tidal movement and deep time.
James Murch – Roots and Relics
Through his open air painting practice, James has explored what happens when nature reclaims historic buildings. His large-scale works capture the tension between human preservation efforts and the unstoppable forces of nature, asking us to consider the legacy of sites like Torre Abbey.
Laura Segan – Salt and Other Stories
Working with textiles and experimental photography, Laura’s work explores the role of salt as both a destructive and preservative force. Using alternative photographic processes and botanical dyes sourced from Torre Abbey’s gardens, her work reflects on erosion, conservation, and cycles of life and decay.
This programme is a collaboration between Artizan Collective CIC, Torre Abbey, and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. Funded by the Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme through National Lottery Heritage Fund Investment, with additional support from CAF; a government funding stream, administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), to protect treasured heritage assets in England from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and funding from Museum Estate Development Fund using public funds by Arts Council England Torbay Council and the Friends of Torre Abbey (FOTA).
Exhibiting Artists
