Hawthorn Sheep Shade 04 Print

Hawthorn trees shaped by adversity, bent by the prevailing south-westerly winds and shaken by winter storms, survive. Their bent boughs and broken branches inform us of survival – the necessity to change and adapt. I respond to visual stories, in this case, its a story told by the landscape of Hawthorn trees and sheep cropped grass. These Hawthorns stand on Sussex Downland within sight of the chalk cliffs which, in jumps and starts, erode towards them. On an idyllic summer’s day, the bent Hawthorns of the South Downs speak of the delight of living. Shaped by adversity; they survive. They are an ecosystem supporting many species; its haws provide food for birds and small mammals; its bent boughs offer shelter for sheep. The broken branches inform us of survival – accepting loss, a willingness to change and adapt.