Exploring the Geopark Through Art

Beneath the familiar landscapes of Torbay’s beaches, cliffs, and historic buildings lies a deeper story—one written in rock, shaped by water, and held in the memories of those who have lived here for centuries. The Geopark Artist Residency Programme has invited four artists to unearth these narratives, responding to Torbay’s UNESCO Global Geopark through a six-month creative journey that has engaged with geologists, conservators, historians, and local communities.

Bringing together the works of James Murch, Laura Segan, Gill Melling, and Rachael Allain, this exhibition at Artizan Collective Gallery presents a collection of paintings, prints, photography, textiles, and installation that capture the hidden stories of our coastline, from its ancient geology to the fragile marine environments beneath the waves.

Each of the four residency artists has approached Torbay’s landscape from a unique perspective, uncovering connections between nature, time, and human intervention.

James Murch – Roots and Relics
Through plein air painting, James documents the shifting balance between heritage conservation and natural reclamation, imagining a future where nature consumes Torre Abbey and questioning what happens when we leave historic sites to the elements.

Laura Segan – Salt and Other Stories
Using analogue photography and textiles, Laura examines the dual role of salt—a force of preservation and destruction—as it shapes the decay of Torre Abbey’s medieval render and influences photographic processes.

Gill Melling – Cultural Entanglements in Marine Environments
Gill’s mixed-media work explores the delicate ecosystems of Torbay’s waters, using found materials, print, and sculptural forms to question the impact of human activity on the marine environment and highlight our dependence on coastal biodiversity.

Rachael Allain – Above and Below the English Riviera
Through microscopic imaging and underwater filming, Rachael captures unseen aquatic worlds, from the seagrass meadows of Torbay’s Marine Conservation Zones to the microbial life thriving in sea caves, revealing the Geopark’s hidden ecosystems.

This exhibition is more than a reflection of the past—it is an invitation to see the Geopark as a living, evolving landscape. Through the eyes of these artists, we are encouraged to look deeper, to recognise the fragile balance of conservation and change, and to engage with our surroundings in new ways.

The Geopark Artist Residency Programme has been made possible by the Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme, with funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Torbay Council, and the Friends of Torre Abbey. The programme is a partnership between Artizan Collective CIC, Torre Abbey, and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, designed to bring new artistic perspectives to the stories that define Torbay.

This showcase coincides with the Geopark Festival Weekend, celebrating the global significance of our UNESCO designation and its connections to heritage, environment, and culture.
We invite you to explore, reflect, and immerse yourself in these creative responses to Torbay’s extraordinary landscapes.