Pressing News at Bere Marsh Farm!
Moths, Intaglio, and Upcycling
Printmaking at Bere Marsh Farm
A few years ago, I realised that teaching bespoke printmaking workshops in my home studio in Dorset was too limiting, and I wanted to spread my wings a bit. It took some time to reflect on this, and work out exactly what I wanted to do. I realised I wanted to teach larger groups – which wouldn’t be possible in the space I have at home – and I also wanted to teach painting in addition to printmaking.
So, I started to look for venues to hold art workshops. I was looking for something particular – a space that would inspire!
I am glad to report that I have found somewhere special; I am very much enjoying a new collaboration with Bere Marsh Farm, in the Blackmore Vale area of North Dorset. The farm nestles between the River Stour and the former Somerset & Dorset railway at Shillingstone, and boasts a magnificent view of the archaeologically-important landmark, Hambledon Hill.
Bere Marsh Farm was purchased in 2020 by the Countryside Regeneration Trust after many years in the capable hands of the Hughes family. Angela Hughes is remembered for her conservation work on the farm, and a nature reserve there is named after her. The Countryside Regeneration Trust continues to care for the land, and is committed to promoting nature-friendly farming to help increase biodiversity. As a result of the ongoing efforts of the team of volunteers and estate staff, Bere Marsh Farm continues to attract wildlife species in increasing numbers and richness.
Education is a key component of the Countryside Regeneration Trust’s ethos, as well as wildlife monitoring and improving wildlife habitats.
When I visited Bere Marsh Farm for the first time, I was struck by the rich seam of wildlife-inspired inspiration on offer for me as an artist, as well as the huge potential for running art workshops to spread the word about conservation. I spoke to Charlotte Weatherley, the Farm Estate and Community Officer, about the possibility of running workshops in the Threshing Barn.
The result was an inaugural mixed media art workshop entitled “NESTLE” in June 2026, when participants responded to some key landmarks on the farm in a variety of media; they sketched with nib pen and ink, sticks and tea, as well as trying their hand at Chinese brush painting. We hope to continue these NESTLE sessions on a seasonal basis.
On Tuesday 4th August I took my intaglio printing press to Bere Marsh Farm for a residency in the Threshing Barn. Finally, I can teach printmaking to larger groups! On Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August I provided a free morning demonstration for the CRT volunteers and any visitors who happened to be passing. The aim of these demonstrations was to welcome my intaglio press to its new home, and introduce people to Tetra Pak Printing. The concept of taking prints from upcycled Tetra Pak cartons is relatively new, but is fast gaining popularity, due in part to the fact it is a safe way to produce a print that looks remarkably like an etching!
On Friday mornings, Martin Devine and his team open the moth boxes on the farm for recording purposes, and to give the Friday volunteers a short talk on the species they find; it was a perfect opportunity last Friday to do a short moth-themed printmaking demonstration for the volunteers afterwards.
There are plenty of moths to choose from at Bere Marsh Farm; each time I attend the Friday moth box opening sessions, I discover a new name. On Friday, I met a Maiden’s Blush!
There are well over 250 species of moths at Bere Marsh Farm, according to Martin and his team, and the number is growing. The surveys have been taking place since 2022, but the team began using battery-operated moth boxes in 2024 after receiving generous donations from a 2023 Twelve Days of Christmas appeal. These battery-operated boxes enable Martin and his team to survey moth species out in the Angela Hughes nature reserve. The boxes are set on Thursday evening, and inspected on Friday morning. Spring to autumn is the busiest recording period, but moths do fly all year round.
Contrary to popular misconception, moths can be as patterned and colourful as butterflies. They also have a wonderful variety of wing and body silhouettes. I wanted my first printmaking workshop at Bere Marsh farm to celebrate the humble moth, and to give people the opportunity to learn a new printmaking technique into the bargain.
If you are a moth lover, are curious about Tetra Pak Printmaking, or both, why not read about my workshop taking place on Thursday 27th August HERE.