Beavering Around is a deep exploration of beavers, their world and way of being - they are often described as architect or engineer, but actually they have no fixed design or grand plan. Instead they work in a messy abstract manner by listening to and feeling their environment around them. Making us liken them more closely to an abstract artist!

Beavers are what’s known as a keystone species, meaning that through their actions whilst living their lives, they create a complex ecosystem of flora and fauna that would not otherwise exist. If through these small actions that these abstract artists take, have such an extensive impact, then what could our impact be as an abstract artist.

The Beavering Around workshop helps map this thought process in 3 phases -

1 Exploration and observation : A walk with no particular destination and wander using our all senses. We will carefully gathering natural objects.

2 Tool and ink making : With no intentions and with the collected natural objects, we craft tools and mix up inks.

3 Mark making : Using the natural tools and inks scratch, squish, wiggle, splat to make a collective textured map.

Beavering Around has been facilitated in a number of variations at The National Trust Assembly Rooms, The American Museum and Gardens, Hawkwood Center For Future Thinking and Entry Hill Open Space.