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Leaping Salmon

The inspiration for this project is the annual migration of Atlantic salmon, (Salmo salar) and Brown trout, (Salmo trutta) along the North Tyne river in Northumberland, UK. Leaping Salmon: Gyotaku developed in partnership with Queen's Hall Arts, Northern Print, the Environment Agency and Northumberland National Parks as part of the 2016 International Print Biennale organised by Northern Print and generously sponsored by Northumbrian Water. Exhibition from 7/10/2017 until 25/11/2017.

Nature Printing Society Newsletter

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June 11, 2017

Here's an article I wrote for the NPS newsletter, Volume XL, Number 2, Spring 2017. Click on the page to enlarge.

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Olfactory Imprinting - the smelly stuff

May 19, 2017

Every aspect of salmon's lives are influenced by olfaction, for example; reproduction, feeding, avoiding predators and migration. Hormonal and environmental factors work together to influence olfactory imprinting. This is a highly specialised form of unconditional learning acquired early in life and then used later in a specific context such as migration. When in the ocean Atlantic salmon detect magnetic fields to aid migration and once they are closer to their natal river olfactory imprinting helps them to navigate upstream to spawn. They can literally "smell home". Therefore, aroma and very specific aromas will form an integral part of my work. I already own a Dale Air vortex unit which I've used in previous exhibitions to fill the space with the smell of the sea. www.daleair.com Below are just a few of my olfactory experiences of Northumberland. The distinctive smell of damp and mossy stone at Black Middens Bastle. To reacquaint myself with ideas a

First impressions

May 13, 2017

My first glimpse of the North Tyne river was at Corbridge. I was not only impressed by the view of bridge and the sunlight shimmering on the water but also by the strong aroma of Himalayan balsam, ( Impatiens glandulifera), which instantly brought back happy childhood memories of our garden and conservatory where my father grew an array of 'exotic' plants. I later found out that the majority of these plants were either invasive such as the Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), highly poisonous like the Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) and Angel trumpet (Brugmansai suaveolens), or had abrasive leaves, for example the Giant Rhubarb (Gunnera manicata), even the common Holly (Ilex aquifolium) was spinescent. Although the Himalayan balsam is an impressive plant with pink blossom and exploding seed pods which seems like an attractive addition to the native vegetation it's considered an invasive species weed. The plants leads to the erosion