Making a Film part 2
Roots/Routes
3 years in the making this film created by Fern Scott has beautifully captured the essence of my practice and why I continue to explore all that metal has to offer. Fern has produced this lovely and meaningful film, for which I am eternally grateful.
I grew up in Lincoln but spent almost every weekend at my grandparents on a farm near Glentham (between Caenby Corner and Market Rasen). Along with my brother, sister and cousins I spent alot of time outdoors, very often in the corn field which we knew we weren’t supposed to be in! We would make the most amazing dens and have hours of fun, it seems like a different world now, but I am so grateful for those memories.
Roots/Routes
Reminiscing on a childhood playing in the fields (when we weren’t supposed to)!
Connecting with my Grandad
When my grandad wasn’t farming one of his favourite things to do was metal detecting, he founds lots of treasure of varying financial and historical value. Most were old coins and belt buckles but I will always remember a silver heart ring that he gave me as a child, I was fascinated with this idea that he found it under the ground and it was still intact.
In 2007, about a year after I graduated from a Metalwork and Jewellery degree, my grandad sent me a package of some pages he had photocopied from his books. These were put on a bookshelf for many years and moved house a few times with me but I rediscovered them some time after he had passed away in 2017. I was so touched that he sent them to me, that he found a connection with me in that way and I still have his hand written note along with the images, as a keepsake.
The (loose) plan for the Film
Back in 2022 as part of my Arts Council England funded project, Fern came up to Sheffield for 2 days with her camera and her eye for capturing the tiniest details to be woven into this lovely and truly meaningful film. The plan was loose but I knew I wanted to take Fern to Lincolnshire, where I grew up, we visited my Grandma and I am so thankful to have her voice in the film, talking about my Grandad and his metal detecting. Most notably he found an Anglo Saxon gold and garnet pendant on the farm. He sold it to the museum in Lincoln in 1979, the year I was born, it is now on display at Lincoln Museum along with other Anglo Saxon artefacts.
In Lincolnshire we visited significant places and drove along much travelled routes which in turn led me to talking about growing up and past memories. As well as my heritage I wanted the film to show some of my making process and give context to my work, I think it does all of these things beautifully.
An homage to my heritage
Through conversation as we drove through the Lincolnshire countryside and the footage Fern captured along the way, this story and film began to emerge, an homage to my heritage. I didn’t know exactly what was going to come out of this but I feel much more connected to my Grandad and my heritage through this project and the work I am creating. I am so pleased to finally share this film with all who are interested, it has been quite a personal journey for me so have possibly taken a little longer than anticipated to share.
