Michelle Wilkinson

I am on a journey of embodiment and self-alignment with nature. To come deeper into my physical presence I am exploring the movement and body forms of non-stylised movement, yoga, shiatsu and Feldenkrais. My desire to connect with my outer landscape of nature has brought me to attend regular individual sessions and workshops with independent movement artist Helen Poynor on the World Heritage Coast of West Dorset and East Devon www.walkoflife.co.uk. I would like to acknowledge this as a source of ideas and inspiration.

With an education degree in movement and dance, I spent my post-graduate year at the Laban Centre, London in 1980, where  I studied movement and dance in the community. Since that time I have taught weekly classes, individual sessions and workshops to a variety of people and groups. These include children, students, professional adults, adults with learning disabilities and retired residents.

I have been using visual and written art forms as a way of recording my explorations and discoveries and these have been deeply enriched by my creative collaboration with Pauline Dyer since 1998. We spend two days a week moving and making artwork in the environment, which is inspiration for classes, sessions, seasonal workshops and art displays. Pauline assists on the seasonal workshops. Here she records the environmental exploration with photographs and shares holding the space at the final group circle.

Pauline Dyer

Nature has always played an important part in my life from my earliest days near the Blaise Castle woodlands, Bristol and school at Kings Weston House with its magical surroundings. Then later to life on the tropical island of Mauritius, followed by the last 30 years in which I have lived close to the River Otter in Devon. It is here that I have taken much of my artistic inspiration from the walks surrounding the banks of the river and the beautiful Jurassic coastline nearby.  A love of making art led me to a 2 year course in Art and Design at Exeter College followed by 3 years at the University of Plymouth, culminating in a degree in Art History with Design Arts. Over the years I have worked on art projects with children and adults using different media including mosaic, fabric and found objects.  

Inspired by the natural world that I have encountered whist exploring in my locality, I have been moving and creating art works in the environment. I have been documenting my exploration through digital images reproduced on handmade paper and other natural materials.