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

Are you TiCL-ish?!

I originally created the A-Z trail around Heavitree Stone sites on Placeify. But then I came across TiCL, who were really enthusiastic about adding "Q is for Quarries" to their portfolio of Exeter trails. So now there are two versions!!

Blog

25 pints

Recently I received through the post a small package from the Blood service: a letter, certificate and badge to mark my 25th blood donation. I didn't expect to feel so honoured and proud.

Article

"Working with Gold" in Digby News

One of my undertakings as Artist in Residence with Digby Community Association was to write about my work for the "Digby News", that is published each November.

Exhibition/Installation

"Q is for Quarries"

"Q is for Quarries" is an A-Z trail that allows people to discover the distinctive Heavitree Stone used to build the red skeleton of Exeter.

Performance/Event

"Patterns": a Studio 36 production

Way back in the mists of time, during Art Week Exeter 2017, I had a conversation about patterns with Veronica Gosling of Studio 36. Five months later I'm singing 20th century classics and knitting on stage.

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.

Talk/Workshop

"Minecraft my home" meetup during Art Week Exeter

"Minecraft my home" is an ongoing activity as part of my "Working with Gold" programme of public art in St Loyes. It is a re-creation of St Loyes as a world in the Minecraft game. During Art Week Exeter, I held a meetup to explore the world together, share what we have been creating, and build more stuff.

Academia

Eco-theology seminars

Seminars for people on the South West Ministry Training Course, training for ministry in the Church of England.

Random Work Generator

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

Attentiveness

A lane of two halves: one year on

Last year, I did the first half of a walk down the 1800s route of Woodwater Lane. I managed the western half as far as the Retail Park, before giving up due to the rain. Exactly one year later, I completed the journey.

Environment

Sustainability at Mucknell Abbey

During 2010-11, I lived alongside Mucknell Abbey, a mixed Benedictine community in the Church of England. Early in the period, the community moved in to their new eco-monastery. I supported them in establishing a pattern of sustainable living, which included creating a series of articles and factsheets about Sustainability on their website.

Making

Municipal-planting-rowan jelly

There's a rowan tree planted beside the bus stop on Grecian Way, and this autumn it's laden with bright red berries.

Place

Quarry Lane

Seeing the stone in St Loyes Chapel made me want to walk back up Quarry Lane and look for evidence of the quarry.

Play

"Particulart: Up in the Air" pop-up at Greenbelt

I was at the Greenbelt Festival over the August bank holiday. As part of a fantastic weekend, I gave a Pecha Kucha talk about my art work, and "Particulart: Up in the Air" popped up in the Allotment Gallery.

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

Talks, sermons, lectures and media - Climate and environment

Drawing on my work at the Met Office, on the Shrinking the Footprint campaign in the Diocese of Exeter, as an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, as a member of Transition Exeter, and while living in the eco-monastery at Mucknell Abbey.

Social Justice

It’s the equality, stupid

Clare Bryden. It’s the equality, stupid. Church Times, 30 July 2012.
Measures of wealth and poverty are complex and subtle; but there is one simple factor, argues Clare Bryden.