- Trees Near Teignmouth
- Arts-led Social Change
Did you miss the conversation? Catch-up here! Donations in support of If Trees Could Talk Devon and/or Ashburton Arts Centre gratefully received!
- “Voices for a Vascular System of a Tree” aka Toby Buckland Weighs in
Artists Joe Webster and Catherine West joined Toby Buckland on BBC Radio Devon last weekend to talk about the “If Trees Could Talk Devon” Talks Across Borders programme at Ashburton Arts Centre. Listen to the recording on BBC Sounds from 12:25 on Sunday 28 June 2026 – or listen to our MP4 here.
- Our “Talks across Borders” have begun
Last night’s steamy event at Ashburton Arts Centre moved our festival into a new stage. Ann Blockley, Jacqui Wedlake-Hatton, Joe Webster and Gordon Field generously discussed, and allowed us to listen to reflections about, their individual practices, and why and how they work with trees. They explored the provocation “If Trees Could Talk” and what
- Sneak Peek at On Location Inspirations of upcoming workshops!
Sessions enabled by Mid-Devon Council
- New Free Printable: Creativity Prompts Zine inspired by Trees
Print the file. Cut along the dotted line. Watch our video for guidance on how to fold it into a booklet. Have creative prompts in your pocket – Ready to help you integrate art into your life. This printable is inspired by “If Trees Could Talk” and made possible by Grape and Grain in Crediton.
- Short video reel from our first Creative Open Day
- “Artists and their Relationships with Trees” roots the “Talks Across Borders” Programme
What roles do trees play in artists’ practice? Why trees? How do artists interpret the provocation, “If Trees Could Talk”? Four artists will be sharing their perspectives next Tuesday 23 July at Ashburton Arts Centre in one of five ‘Talks Across Borders’ – a series of events in a Devon contribution to an International Art
- Latest Festival Additions
The Green Phoenix Festival and an art exhibition at the Exeter Climate Forum are amongst the latest additions to the “If Trees Could Talk Devon” Festival. Ecologist and storyteller Peter Yeo is also leading “Storying the Trees of Crediton” – a guided walk meeting a variety of tree-beings and hearing related stories from literature on
- “If Trees Could Talk Devon” Contributors weave their way through the Devon County Show
Catherine West and four Significant Seams volunteers, Vanessa Mile of WellImage and two of their volunteers, and Andy Williamson of Ashburton Arts Centre manned three mini exhibitions and offered three activities from the Innovation tent at Devon County Show. Well Image CIC and the Phoenix Arts Centre‘s Exeter Tree Group both offered tree (and nature)
- The Official Programme for “If Trees Could Talk Devon”…
We are just about ready to begin! Over 70 people and organisations have contributed to creating quite a distinctive line-up. It represents the start of something, not the closing of doors. (We continue to take listings for the digital programme here. Enriching the landscape will be a good thing! ) We are beginning to plan and
- The Co-Created “If Trees Could Talk Devon” Festival Programme will launch at Devon County Show
The programme has been co-created with people around Devon keen to connect across boundaries, creatively. The full programme will launch on 21 May 2026 online and from the Devon County Show. Programmes will also be available by post for a £3+ suggested donation plus postage. Pre-purchase yours now to help us cover the costs of
- Andy Richards
Andy is a painter, land artist/sculptor, and the founder art and well-being community We Are Artists (WAA). Eternally inspired by nature (all-knowing beauty) and human nature (work in progress), he has been drawn to the emergence / threat of AI, climate change and modern existence, as well as gender politics and burden of the next
- Call for Listings: “If Trees Could Talk Devon” Festival – Satellite of an International Art Biennial
Over the last few years, artists across Devon in SW England have been listening to the trees, and engaging children and communities of all ages in conversations with our natural landscape. Significant Seams CIC is pleased to announce that it is partnering with the “If Trees Could Talk International Art Biennial” to make the county
- Simon Ripley
Simon Ripley is a Founder Director of the Double Elephant Print Workshop, based in Exeter, SW England. He comes from a family of commercial printers for the wine trade and grew up in the world of multi-colour, embossed and gold blocked labels for Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky or Beefeater Gin. Inheriting an 1850’s Columbian Relief
- Rebecca Holley
Rebecca Holley was asked to create a ‘rag rug’ inspired by the global warming stripes by Penguin Random House Publishers for the launch of Greta Thunbergs book ‘Climate.’ It hung in the window of Foyles Bookshop, London for the launch. It now resides in Penguin Random House Publishers London Offices. Rebecca practices all forms of art. She trained as a fine
- Joe Webster
Joe’s ‘landscape-graffiti’ paintings explore the relationship between human activity and nature. Joe revels in working plein-air, composing love songs for nature in colour and light. But in the 21st century there is a paradox. To Joe, bucolic landscapes feel clichéd, or naive. The bliss and purpose he gains from his relationship with nature sits beside
- Craftivism Prompt and Contexts Workshops Now available
Significant Seams have put together a new ‘Craftivism Prompt’ worksheet associated to International Women’s Day, along with a facilitators notes sheet. This is aligned to the Devon County Council Family Hub strategy and plan to increase – in age appropriate ways – learning about violence against women and girls, coercive control, and support development of
- About our ‘Pay it Forward’ Tickets
We are deeply grateful to various participants in our recent ‘EcoCraftland Crediton’ workshops who have made ‘Pay-it- Forward’ Contributions. A few questions have arisen that we thought were excellent points – that we didnt realise werent clear… so we thought we’d share our answers. Our Pay it Forward tickets are a donation that enables us
- Crediton Community Basket
As part of the 2025 EcoCrafternoon and EcoCraftland Crediton, Artisan Basket Weaver Jane Welsh has led people in learning skills and patterns of basketweaving, resulting in the creation of the (first?) Crediton Community Basket. The lovely co-created object has a ‘standing base:’ it is made whilst standing on the willow rods. The initial buff rods
Did you miss the conversation? Catch-up here! Donations in support of If Trees Could Talk Devon and/or Ashburton Arts Centre gratefully received!
Artists Joe Webster and Catherine West joined Toby Buckland on BBC Radio Devon last weekend to talk about the “If Trees Could Talk Devon” Talks Across Borders programme at Ashburton Arts Centre. Listen to the recording on BBC Sounds from 12:25 on Sunday 28 June 2026 – or listen to our MP4 here.
Last night’s steamy event at Ashburton Arts Centre moved our festival into a new stage. Ann Blockley, Jacqui Wedlake-Hatton, Joe Webster and Gordon Field generously discussed, and allowed us to listen to reflections about, their individual practices, and why and how they work with trees. They explored the provocation “If Trees Could Talk” and what
Sessions enabled by Mid-Devon Council
Print the file. Cut along the dotted line. Watch our video for guidance on how to fold it into a booklet. Have creative prompts in your pocket – Ready to help you integrate art into your life. This printable is inspired by “If Trees Could Talk” and made possible by Grape and Grain in Crediton.
What roles do trees play in artists’ practice? Why trees? How do artists interpret the provocation, “If Trees Could Talk”? Four artists will be sharing their perspectives next Tuesday 23 July at Ashburton Arts Centre in one of five ‘Talks Across Borders’ – a series of events in a Devon contribution to an International Art
The Green Phoenix Festival and an art exhibition at the Exeter Climate Forum are amongst the latest additions to the “If Trees Could Talk Devon” Festival. Ecologist and storyteller Peter Yeo is also leading “Storying the Trees of Crediton” – a guided walk meeting a variety of tree-beings and hearing related stories from literature on
Catherine West and four Significant Seams volunteers, Vanessa Mile of WellImage and two of their volunteers, and Andy Williamson of Ashburton Arts Centre manned three mini exhibitions and offered three activities from the Innovation tent at Devon County Show. Well Image CIC and the Phoenix Arts Centre‘s Exeter Tree Group both offered tree (and nature)
The programme has been co-created with people around Devon keen to connect across boundaries, creatively. The full programme will launch on 21 May 2026 online and from the Devon County Show. Programmes will also be available by post for a £3+ suggested donation plus postage. Pre-purchase yours now to help us cover the costs of
Andy is a painter, land artist/sculptor, and the founder art and well-being community We Are Artists (WAA). Eternally inspired by nature (all-knowing beauty) and human nature (work in progress), he has been drawn to the emergence / threat of AI, climate change and modern existence, as well as gender politics and burden of the next
Over the last few years, artists across Devon in SW England have been listening to the trees, and engaging children and communities of all ages in conversations with our natural landscape. Significant Seams CIC is pleased to announce that it is partnering with the “If Trees Could Talk International Art Biennial” to make the county
Simon Ripley is a Founder Director of the Double Elephant Print Workshop, based in Exeter, SW England. He comes from a family of commercial printers for the wine trade and grew up in the world of multi-colour, embossed and gold blocked labels for Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky or Beefeater Gin. Inheriting an 1850’s Columbian Relief
Rebecca Holley was asked to create a ‘rag rug’ inspired by the global warming stripes by Penguin Random House Publishers for the launch of Greta Thunbergs book ‘Climate.’ It hung in the window of Foyles Bookshop, London for the launch. It now resides in Penguin Random House Publishers London Offices. Rebecca practices all forms of art. She trained as a fine
Joe’s ‘landscape-graffiti’ paintings explore the relationship between human activity and nature. Joe revels in working plein-air, composing love songs for nature in colour and light. But in the 21st century there is a paradox. To Joe, bucolic landscapes feel clichéd, or naive. The bliss and purpose he gains from his relationship with nature sits beside
Significant Seams have put together a new ‘Craftivism Prompt’ worksheet associated to International Women’s Day, along with a facilitators notes sheet. This is aligned to the Devon County Council Family Hub strategy and plan to increase – in age appropriate ways – learning about violence against women and girls, coercive control, and support development of
We are deeply grateful to various participants in our recent ‘EcoCraftland Crediton’ workshops who have made ‘Pay-it- Forward’ Contributions. A few questions have arisen that we thought were excellent points – that we didnt realise werent clear… so we thought we’d share our answers. Our Pay it Forward tickets are a donation that enables us
As part of the 2025 EcoCrafternoon and EcoCraftland Crediton, Artisan Basket Weaver Jane Welsh has led people in learning skills and patterns of basketweaving, resulting in the creation of the (first?) Crediton Community Basket. The lovely co-created object has a ‘standing base:’ it is made whilst standing on the willow rods. The initial buff rods