West Wight Portraits of a Landscape
West Wight Portraits of a Landscape is a multi-sensory project exploring life in our home on the Isle of Wight through photographs, sounds and shared stories.
Celebrating both deep-rooted traditions and contemporary innovation, the project tells the stories of people who live and work in connection with the land and sea. From beekeepers and farmers to artists, hedge layers, educators and maritime archaeologists, these portraits reveal the many different ways people connect with the unique landscape of West Wight.
Using a distinctive multi-sensory approach, the project weaves together powerful photographic portraits set within the landscape, personal stories and sound recordings created through the everyday rhythms of people’s work and activities. Together, these elements offer an intimate and evocative insight into our shared relationship with the West Wight environment.
EarthMuseum is working in collaboration with two exciting Island-based artists: photographer Pete Johnstone and sound artist Nathan Holt. Pete has photographed 20 fascinating people connected with the land and sea who live and work in West Wight, while Nathan has captured the sounds of everyday life, including milking cows, bees in hives, bellringing, charcoal making, artists at work, digging and poetry reading, creating an immersive soundscape to accompany the photographic portraits.
The project has also engaged with the wider community. Janet Owen has worked with young learners in West Wight to explore the idea of sensory landscapes, while more than 100 people have taken part in pop-up events, sharing their own stories and connections to the area.
Alongside the exhibition, the project will include a digital map of portraits accompanied by new schools learning resource, 'Portraits of Your Landscape' available through EarthMuseum Learn for students everywhere to enjoy.
Located in the heart of West Wight and once the home of pioneering photographic portraitist Julia Margaret Cameron and her famous Freshwater Circle, Dimbola Museum & Galleries is a natural setting for the West Wight Portraits of a Landscape collection.
With Thanks
This project has been made possible by the generosity and support of many individuals and organisations. Special thanks go to the 20 wonderful portrait participants who kindly agreed to share their stories and be part of the project; Pete Johnstone and Nathan Holt for their creativity and dedication; Janet Owen for her work with young people and the wider community; and Jean Owen at Naked Figleaf Press for her support.
Finally, huge thanks go to the , led by Creative Island and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation, with funding provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, whose generous support has helped turn this ambitious project into reality.