Ab Initio -
Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve - 2025
One Island - Many Visions is a Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust collaboration with the Royal Society of Sculptors, involving 27 artists’ residencies, and research outcomes over 18 months, resulting in the exhibition, symposium and community events running from 6th September to 31st October 2025.
Royal Society of Sculptors members have worked collaboratively with PSQT Living Land Archive Project for the regeneration of quarry landscapes alongside members of the Portland community.
My work - Ab Initio (70 x 800 x 45 cm) located in Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve, aligns with the interdisciplinary project led by Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust for the regeneration of landscape. The project, sponsored by Dorset DSWA, was initiated in partnership with fellow artist Ros Burgin MRSS and developed in collaboration with Peter Curtis and Phyllis Warren of the Dorset Branch of the Dry-Stone Walling Association, Hannah Sofaer, Creative Director of the Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust, and with valued contributions from naturalist Bob Ford (PSQT).
Ab Initio—Latin for “from the beginning” signifies a return to origin. It evokes a reconnection with foundational principles of place, ecology, and the traditional skills of dry-stone walling. The artwork draws on dry-stone walling not to divide space, but to create a space that supports biodiversity.
Ab Initio is a sculptural habitat employing dry-stone walling not only as a construction method but also as a practice of landscape regeneration. Its curved lines capture sunlight from varying angles. Its amphitheater-like forms reflect and retain heat within the concave structures, creating a microclimate with slightly elevated temperatures that encourage plant growth. The elevation of the walls above the ground reduces wind speed, facilitating the dispersal and settling of wind-borne seeds. Cracks within the dry-stone walls provide niches for flora, insects, invertebrates, and small mammals. The thermal properties of the stones are particularly beneficial for small reptiles, offering warmth and shelter. The developments of the sculptural habitat will remain under observation and will be documented in the years to come.
photo credit: Mark Vellacott
Photo credit: Mark Vellacott
Photo credit: Mark Vellacott
Dry Stone Walling course 2024 with tutors of the DorsetDSWA branch
Dry Stone Walling course 2025 with tutors of the DorsetDSWA branch
Researching on local stone with Hannah Sofaer PSQT
Researching on local fauna with Bob Ford naturalist PSQT
