Amanda Watson

In a little village in the east of England, there is a small church called St Peter and St Paul’s Edgefield. A few years ago, I contacted the rector, Reverend David Longe, to see if I might come and spend time painting there. I explained that I was the great-great-granddaughter of Walter & Sarah Marcon – Walter who served as a rector at St Peter and St Paul for most of his life. His father and grandfather had been rectors before him. I am truly grateful to have experienced the generous hospitality of the community there and to hear the stories that have weaved their way through our lives.

During September 2024 I developed a new body of work on-site over a duration of three weeks making several substantial paintings in collaboration with the place. On the rainy days I worked inside the church, rolling back the pews, and exploring the stone arches, wooden panels, stone floor, and the ambience that filled the space. When the sun was out I worked outside on the flintstone walls and stained-glass windows. Each morning before beginning work I would be still and sing and pray in the space, these were wonderful times where I sensed a welcoming to begin work for the day. The work was installed in-situ in the church at the end of this time for public viewing.

I brought these paintings home with me to New Zealand and they are being exhibited in ‘Vital Union: Painting with Spaces and Places’, curated by Cerys Dallaway Davidson at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Art Gallery in Hamilton, New Zealand.

To purchase these works visit the Gallery Store

Installation

27th - 28th September 2024

St Peters & St Pauls Edgefield, Norfolk, UK.

Warm thanks for the support of Reverend David Longe, Richard Peaver, Kay and Kevin (my ‘painting assistants’) and the St Peter’s & St Paul’s Church Parish Committee, Helen and Tom for their warm and generous hospitality, and the local community on my journey of painting in Edgefield during. Thanks also to friends and family and for the support of the Waikato Institute of Technology; Caleb at ITIA/St Andrews University; Mary at DJCAD/University of Dundee; Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts Gallery, Murray Rae at the University of Otago, and the Journal of Visual Arts Practice, for your wider support of me and this mahi.

Events

Opening Blessing, 8th September 2024; Painting Residency at St Peter’s & St Paul’s Church in Edgefield, Sweetbriar Ln, Melton Constable NR24 2AF, UK; Exhibition: ‘Vital Union: Painting with Edgefield’, Saturday 28th September 2024, St Peter’s & St Paul’s; Research Presentation: ‘Vital Union: Seeing the Real in Site-responsive Painting’, ITIA Research Seminar, School of Divinity, St Andrews University, 12.00pm, 4th October 2024; Research Seminar: Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design [DJCAD], University of Dundee, Scotland, 8th October 2024; Research Presentation: ‘Vital Union: Seeing the Real in Site-responsive Painting’, panel speaker, Art Association of Australia and New Zealand. Australian National University, Canberra. 4th December2024; Research Presentation: ‘Vital Union: Seeing the Real in Site-responsive Painting’, Edinburgh College of Art's, Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA), ‘PROKALO’ Lecture Series, 10th April 2025; Presentation & Workshop: ‘Vital Union: Seeing the Real in Site-responsive Painting’, Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Art Educators National Conference, April 15th 2025; Artist Publication Book Launch, 21st November 2025; Lecture, Art & Theology Winter Programme, University of Otago, 21st July 2025.

Photography by Mark Purdom