Torre Abbey Acquires Contemporary Work by James Murch Through New Artist Residency Programme
- Artizan
- Dec 6, 2025
- 5 min read
Torre Abbey has announced the acquisition of a major new work by Torbay-based artist James Murch, created during his time as part of the Geopark Artist Residency Programme. The purchase continues Torre Abbey’s history of collecting contemporary art to add to the existing nationally important collection.
The acquisition is one of the landmark outcomes of the Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme (LHGS), which supported more than 25 small groups, individuals, and organisations to develop innovative projects exploring Torbay’s heritage.
Delivered in partnership by Torre Abbey, Artizan Collective CIC, and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, the residency scheme enabled participating artists to create ambitious new works in response to Torbay’s significant UNESCO designation, that they would not otherwise have been able to realise, embedding fresh creative narratives into the region’s cultural legacy.
A Residency with Impact
The Geopark Artist Residency Programme offered four artists the opportunity to explore and reinterpret Torbay’s unique natural and cultural landscapes. At Torre Abbey, James Murch produced his Roots and Relics series, an exploration of the tension between heritage conservation and the natural processes of growth, erosion, and reclamation.
Speaking on the acquisition, James said:
“It’s an incredible honour to have my work become part of a museum collection. As an artist, you hope your work will resonate with people, but knowing it will be preserved, shared, and given a life beyond the studio makes it truly special. To have that happen here carries an even deeper significance. Torre Abbey has been a place of learning and inspiration throughout my residency, and to see this period of creativity culminate in a lasting contribution to its collection is profoundly meaningful.”
Following his 2020 residency at Cockington Court, James established his permanent studio there, where the surrounding grounds continue to inform his open-air practice. Manifestation, the sister piece to the work acquired by Torre Abbey, is on display in his studio together with studies and supporting works from the residency.
Torre Abbey Statement
“We are delighted to welcome James Murch’s Roots and Relics series into the Torre Abbey collection. This acquisition represents a meaningful step in our commitment to supporting contemporary artists and embedding local creative voices into our nationally significant holdings. James’s work offers a powerful reflection on the interplay between heritage and nature, themes that resonate deeply with our site and its history. We are proud to have played a role in enabling this work through the Geopark Artist Residency Programme and look forward to sharing it with our audiences for years to come.”
Significance for Torre Abbey
The acquisition was made possible by Torbay Council through the Art Object Fund linked to Torre Abbey.
This is the first acquisition from the Geopark Artist Residency Programme and marks a pivotal moment in the Abbey’s collecting history. It introduces a contemporary, locally rooted perspective into a collection traditionally known for its historic and Pre-Raphaelite works, expanding the narrative scope of the museum.
The acquisition underscores Torre Abbey’s evolving role as both a guardian of heritage and a platform for contemporary cultural expression in Torbay. It reflects the Abbey’s dedication to fostering creative engagement with place and heritage and support of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark.
Partner Reflections
The acquisition is also being celebrated as an exemplar of partnership working. By combining enabling grants with innovative residency approaches, the programme demonstrated how limited resources can be leveraged to create long-term cultural value.
Jacob Brandon, Director of Artizan Collective CIC, commented:
“This purchase is not just the addition of a single artwork; it is the embodiment of what can happen when artists are enabled to openly explore their practice in response to place. Through the residency scheme, James and the other artists were able to develop work that speaks directly to Torbay’s layered histories and living heritage. To see that work now preserved within Torre Abbey’s collection is a legacy we are proud to share in.”
Nick Powe, Chair of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark said:
“Torbay’s UNESCO Geopark designation is founded on the outstanding geological heritage of the English Riviera. Fundamental to the designation is celebrating how the natural environment is connected to the community, to the people who live and visit the area. This residency is a great example of doing exactly this and we are delighted to be working with James Murch and Torre Abbey on this project.”
A Wider Programme of Success
The Geopark Artist Residencies formed part of a wider suite of Local Heritage Grant Scheme projects, which together created powerful new narratives around Torbay’s heritage. From experimental exhibitions to community-led initiatives, the scheme has broadened how local history is told, ensuring that Torbay’s diverse stories reach audiences locally and beyond.
The acquisition of James Murch’s work cements the residency programme’s legacy, not only in the memory of its exhibitions but within the walls of Torre Abbey itself.
More Information
The Geopark Artist Residency Programme
The Geopark Artist Residency Programme was a collaborative initiative of Torre Abbey, Artizan Collective CIC, and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. It supported four artists to produce new bodies of work interpreting Torbay’s internationally significant heritage, combining studio space, enabling grants, and curated showcases at Torre Abbey and Artizan Collective Gallery. The programme piloted lean, partnership-based commissioning, delivered 150+ days of artist access, public events, and licensed digital collections for long-term Geopark storytelling.
Torre Abbey
Founded in 1196, Torre Abbey is Torbay’s most historic building complex and one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in Devon and Cornwall. An accredited museum and Scheduled Ancient Monument, it holds a regionally and nationally important art collection (including Pre-Raphaelite work), significant botanical collections, and a Hartley Clear Span palm house. Recent restoration has focused on safeguarding the site while enhancing public engagement.
Artizan Collective CIC
Artizan Collective CIC is a Torquay-based social enterprise supporting sustainable creative careers and high-quality cultural experiences for local communities. Operating two galleries and a studio hub, Artizan curates year-round exhibitions, residencies, mentoring and public programmes, and partners across the region to widen access to the arts and nurture talent.
The English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark
The English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark is an internationally recognised landscape telling over 400 million years of Earth history—from tropical seas to Permian deserts—and celebrating the deep connections between geology, biodiversity, people and culture. The designation promotes protection, education and sustainable development while strengthening pride of place.
Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme (LHGS)
The Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme, made possible by investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, is a Torbay Culture programme to improve access and participation in Torbay’s heritage and to raise awareness of, and celebrate, the area’s UNESCO Global Geopark designation. Running from mid-2023 to late-2025, the scheme offered grants from £500 to £5,000 for activity and up to £7,500 for capital, with three application rounds across 2023–2025. In January 2024, Torbay Council confirmed an additional £12,500 of Council funding alongside the National Lottery support.
Programme Funding Credits
This Geopark Artist Residency programme was delivered in partnership by 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 the Cultural Assets Fund (administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund), the Museum Estate and Development Fund (Arts Council England), Torbay Council, and the Friends of Torre Abbey (FOTA).
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