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.

News

Almost one year...

...since the beginning of Lockdown 1

Blog

Seeing and believing and living

Another in my very irregular series of 'were I to have preached'... Thomas was not the first, nor the last.

Talk/Workshop

Slow Book Group: The Cloud of Unknowing

Some notes on running a group reading The Cloud together. Through it, we hoped to gain a deeper understanding of prayer and through that to deepen our own prayer lives and relationships with God.

Article

What can I do about the Climate Emergency? Part 9

One of a series of articles for Exeter Cathedral’s monthly news. It's the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, and I'm looking at the emotive issue of food.

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.

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.

Random Work Generator

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

Attentiveness

Shared Lectio Divina, June 2020

My reflections during shared Lectio on the Gospel readings through June.

Environment

Grieving the future

"In this environment, the task of the prophet is not initially to lead a movement toward social renewal, but to lead the people in creative, artistic, public lament." - Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination

Making

Knit your own bee

You are welcome to download my instructions for making "Ghost Bees", which includes a knitting pattern for the body, a size guide for cutting out the wings from milk cartons, and instructions for assembly.

Place

China clay in your hand

Many years ago I saw a TV segment exploring a china clay pit, and was struck by the infinite landscape and colours. I'd been wanting to see one with my own eyes ever since, and have finally had the chance.

Play

Review of "Counter-Tourism: The Handbook"

Clare Bryden. Review of "Counter-Tourism: The Handbook" assembled by Crab Man. Third Way Magazine, June 2013.

Public Engagement

We made a font!

Over the last few months, I've been collaborating with local artist Steven Bramble on producing an alphabet and font for the Quarry Pod.

Science and Data

Graphical Web

This week I've been geeking out at Graphical Web, "an annual, global conference that showcases the many new open source technologies available for presenting visual information on the web."

Social Justice

#BAD14 #Inequality

Today is Blog Action Day, and in 2014 the theme is Inequality. I'm afraid I'm going to cheat, and post stuff I've written earlier. Some is a bit dated (anyone remember Michael Gove?), but I think the core message is still relevant...