Main Areas of Focus

My interests are wide-ranging, primarily in how human beings affect and are affected by the natural world of which we are part, and the related theology and psychology of connectedness.

Artist

Creating beautiful and thought-provoking art as a means of supporting care for planet and people, nurturing a sense of place, and building community

Writer

Articles and blogs on economics, environment, nature, attentiveness, applied theology, arts, and anything that interests me

Consultant

» Website development and training
» Energy efficiency and renewable energy consultancy
» Research and reporting

Latest News and Produce

What I’ve recently produced. What I’m working on. What’s in the pipeline.

Blog

Shared Lectio Divina, 6 October 2020

My reflections during shared Lectio on the Gospel reading: Luke 10.38-end.

Article

The Climate Emergency and #BlackLivesMatter

I'm writing a series of articles for Exeter Cathedral's monthly News about what we can do about the Climate Emergency. White people say we want to be an ally to Black people. But are we ready for sacrifice?

Exhibition/Installation

Experimenting for "Moths to a Flame"

The amazingly creative Chloe Uden from Art and Energy has made oak gall ink, so I attempted watercolour for the first time, and a Great Oak Beauty moth.

Academia

Working title: “The application of weather forecasting techniques to health forecasting”

In a past working life I conducted a thought experiment, looking at the different aspects of numerical weather prediction and weather forecasting at the Met Office, and asking whether these techniques might have an analogue in health forecasting. At the time, I thought there might be a paper in it. It never came to be written, so this is how I am keeping the idea alive.

Performance/Event

West Barok Singers & Players

A concert of Handel "Dixit Dominus" and other baroque gems, held in the Music Room at Powderham Castle.

Talk/Workshop

Lectio Divina on Zoom

Initially a step into the unknown, group Lectio Divina over Zoom has proved to work extremely well; its very structured format holds open a space for deep encounters with both God and each other.

Recording

"...and the Greatest of these is Love"

In their second album, Antiphon presents world premiere recordings of three choral works by Michael Walsh: an unaccompanied Mass of the Holy Trinity; a full-scale Requiem Mass; and The Way of Love, a setting of five love poems by Rupert Brooke. We recorded it in July 2017 in the crossing and Lady Chapel in Exeter Cathedral.

News

"Minecraft Climate Quest" is STEAMMing ahead

I'm looking forward to piloting "Minecraft Climate Quest" at the ExIST STEAMM Show, an interactive exhibition of commercial, research and creative projects from the south west which combine arts, sciences and technology.

Random Work Generator

There are a number of threads running through all my work. Here’s a random sample from each.

Attentiveness

Talking about "Prayer"

This evening, I've been asked to talk about Prayer, I suppose because I have a practice of contemplative prayer and am about to go and live alongside a monastic community. Trouble is, how do I express the inexpressible? Here is roughly what I want to say.

Environment

Must. Not. Get. Sarcastic. Ach failed again.

Oh dear, I was writing about Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, then I was writing about modern criticism of the book, then I was writing about environmental regulation vs economic freedom, then I was quoting George Osborne, and it all went downhill from there. But I enjoyed the rant 🙂

Making

"Ghost Bees" at Teignmouth Recycled Art in the Landscape

This summer, if you happen to be wandering along the Teignmouth sea-front, you will happen across twelve "Ghost Bees" hovering in the flower bed between Pavilions and Pier.

Place

FALAFELS

FALAFELS stands for Free Art Friday Exeter St Loyes Loves Anagrams. You have to think about it a bit!

Play

"The lady's not for Turnip" by Victoria Cindy Feet

My fourth and absolutely my last attempt for Turnip Prize glory. Although you never know. After all, the Tories shouldn't have a monopoly on U-turns, flip-flops, deceiving the voters, or otherwise go against their word.

Public Engagement

Talk on "Particulart" at Pint of Science

On Monday 18th May, I took "Particulart" into the unfamiliar territory – The Ship Inn in the middle of Exeter – as part of the annual worldwide Pint of Science festival.

Science and Data

Playing with data: FITs

An interactive map of renewables capacity registered under the Feed-in Tariffs scheme between 1 April 2010 and 30 September 2011, aggregated over Local Authority area.

Social Justice

Maslow's hierarchy

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is 70 years old. Here's my version reflecting the hierarchy in the UK and US.