Albion, 2016, is a landmark map of England and Wales, where the mundane and regular things in life have evaporated away to reveal sites of longstanding cultural significance and those steeped in folklore. The work is also a characterization of B
Here at the boarder, Scotland falls away at the bottom of the image with an indication to the Caledonian Orogeny. [The fault line of the Caledonian Orogeny in Scotland formed some 520 million years ago when North Scotland merged with England and Wal
Amongst the many things shown and pinpointed on this map are the major rivers, presented here, once again as prominent features – arteries of exchange and fundamental to the positioning of settlements.
The motorways and national footpaths are the arteries of travel across the landscape.
The cardinal lighthouses stand along the coastline; so are the contours of the sea and the shipping forecast zones.
Many historical and sacred sights sites are shown - Stone Henge, Stanton Drew, Wood Henge, Avebury and Silbury Hill, many of which are still clouded in mystery. Also included is some of the nations’ famous tress, such the Big Belly Oak of Savernak
Cathedrals; monuments; ruins; castles and ancient geographical landmarks abound.
The major power stations are shown - nuclear and coal. Some of the bazaar yearly customs to be found across the nation also get a look in like the Cheese Rolling at Cooper’s Hill And the Haxey Hood in Lincolnshire.
The map is also littered with weird and wonderful place names such as Snodland (Kent), Temple Cloud (Somerset), Giggleswick (Yorkshire) and Blubber Houses, as well as other names that denote places’ past usages. The names themselves become landmarks
Prominent ancient tribal names of the Romans period are also drawn bleeding out from the landscape from where they came.
Some of the words appear from a wonderful glossary collated by Robert Macfarlane in his book Landmarks of regional words from a number of dialects that describe natural phenomena.
In folklore and history, there are legends and famous figures that attach themselves to certain places - Robin Hood, King Arthur and Spring Healed Jack… Many of which are included in this map. Numerous sites associated with the legends of ‘King’ Art
The oldest known Shrovetide football games in the world at Ashbourne and Alnwick.
Of particular interest, are those that mirror well-known and important historical events where folklore gathers in order to remember them and the recording of loss. Dinas Emrys (Snowdonia) is attached to the rise of the legendary Merlin (Mwelrin) an
Other historical events that have influenced folklore are the witch-hunts of 16th and 17th Century England. These were most prominent in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
Strange natural phenomena find their way into folklore, such as flickering lights that ignite over marshy ground (caused by rising of gases from decaying matter underground. These have giving rise to names such as Punket, Jack o’ Lantern, Will o’ th
In celebration of an alternative, gothic nation immortalized in fiction - Dartmoor becomes ‘Grimpen Mire’ from the hound of the Baskervilles.
Whitby becomes ‘Dracula’s Landing’
The map also celebrates the act of gathering, especially for music festivals. Many of which are included on the map, such as the legendary Isle of White festivals of 1969-70, Glastonbury Fair and many of the contemporary ones that have sprung up all
Some of the major pre-Roman solstice lines and other ley lines are marked. Rather than being anything to do with super-natural forces; these are thought to have been the first human navigational routes through the landscape incorporating prominent n
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It also maps the wind and the offshore oil and gas platforms.
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In celebration of an alternative, gothic nation immortalized in fiction - Dartmoor becomes ‘Grimpen Mire’ from the hound of the Baskervilles.
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______________________________________ Walter-Albion , 2014-15, (Original Drawing) 263.7 x 231.1 cm Graphite on Paper Walter-Albion , (HC) Hors Commerce Edition of 5 151.5 x 172.6cm, Archival inkjet Print Edition of 5. These have ent
Further information: The Commission: Walter-Albion Walter-Albion was commissioned by the arts organization Flash of Splendor Art CIC, in partnership with Exeter University and the Heritage Lottery Fund. I was asked to create a work that woul
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