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.

Article

Good money after bad

Clare Bryden. Good money after bad. Church Times, 1 October 2021.
Clare Bryden suggests ten ways to use personal finance for a better world

Talk/Workshop

Prayer and Bible reading groups

As part of starting a new blog devoted to prayer and spiritual life, I have moved over the material on related workshops and group work.

Blog

Japanese Dogwood

When I moved to Exeter, one of the first things I did was to plant a tree. This year it's gone 'berserk' and many of my neighbours have remarked on it... Which has led me to take more notice of it too.

Exhibition/Installation

"1x1"

Studies of colour, form and pattern that are below, around and above me.

Academia

“Live the questions now” 2020/21

Teaching on the Medical Humanities Special Studies Unit at Exeter Medical School, introducing fourth year students to conceptual and environmental art, looking at meaning-making and how we turn ideas into art, making art.

Performance/Event

Performance in a worship context

As part of starting a new blog devoted to prayer and spiritual life, I have moved over the material on related performance.

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

New blog on prayer and spiritual life

I have increasingly been feeling that I wanted to write more about my prayer and spirituality. I have therefore started a new blog...

Random Work Generator

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

Attentiveness

"Touch:Triptych" in the Exeter Community Centre Summer Exhibition

My first piece in my first exhibition! The three panels of Touch:Triptych together for the first time.

Environment

Clare and Rosie go for a wander

My ideas for an artist's residency in St Loyes Exeter are gathering momentum. I'm close to putting in my first grant application, and on Friday 28 July Rosie King kindly joined me on a walk around the ward. It's an area ripe for an artistic response!

Making

I made a trail!

When Steven Bramble suggested designing an alphabet of Heavitree Stone, I immediately thought of its potential use in an A-Z. I came across Placeify some years ago, powering Exeter University's Sculpture Tour, and the two things came together as an idea for a trail.

Place

FALAFELS

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

Play

Press Release - "Knitting exhibition shows climate change to be ‘Up in the Air’"

An innovative art installation goes on show this week to bring alive the greenhouse gases that are causing climate change. Local artist Clare Bryden has been knitting larger than life versions of the particles and making card games. The exhibition, which will be on display from 11-24 July at the Glorious Art House in Fore Street Exeter, is designed to be a playful way of sparking people’s interest in the science and issue of climate change.

Public Engagement

Building with the Quarry Pod

I haven't written much about the progress of the Heavitree Squilometre Quarry Pod. It's been a period of research then consolidation and creative pondering, by turns fascinating, inspiring, and great fun!

Science and Data

#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...

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...