In Conversation: Erica Luke on nature, creativity and finding her place in Plymouth
What’s On Plymouth Culture reporter and Fashion Designer Victoria Lammie caught up with Erica Luke during Devon Open Studios to find out about her art practice, relocation to Plymouth and her taking part in The Plymouth Art Weekender this October.
Image - Studio Wallop
Can you tell me about your practice for those discovering your work for the first time?
I am a visual artist based in Plymouth. I predominantly work in drawing, painting and I do a little bit of gel plate printing as well. The starting point for my practice is in my sketchbooks, where I do observational drawing, then I usually make my paintings and prints using those drawings as reference. I’m inspired by nature and green spaces and I like to use heightened colour and abstracting what I see. I find this usually helps in trying to convey how I felt in the moment within that landscape.
Image - Sue Vaughton
Your background is in horticulture. Can you explain this further?
I studied film at University and I worked in advertising in an admin role. But I realised sitting at a desk wasn’t my cup of tea. So I retrained and did a horticulture course at Capel Manor College in Regent’s Park in London and from there I worked as a gardener, working in private residential gardens. At this point I wanted to do something more community focused, so I did a permaculture design course which opened my eyes to a different way of growing and then I started working for a community gardening charity as a community gardener which I really loved. I do really miss that job, gardening is still a passion of mine!
Image - Sue Vaughton
You relocated from London to Plymouth, what made you decide to move and why Plymouth?
My husband and I had been wanting to move out of London for a long time, but we didn’t know where to go. We both grew up in London, my sister had stayed in Plymouth after doing her degree there. She had decided to move abroad for a couple of years and the opportunity to live in her house arose. So we thought why not! So we very quickly quit our jobs and moved. Initially thinking it would be a temporary base for us to find our idyllic rural little cottage somewhere in Cornwall or Devon. But we just fell in love with the city within the first few months. We stopped looking elsewhere. It has all the convenience of a city but has really easy access to the sea and the moors. I feel it has a very vibrant creative community that’s easy to get involved in. I love it here!
What are you currently working on?
I am in the middle of doing an Art Residency with the Dartmoor Preservation Association. This involves joining their conservation volunteer sessions and doing the tasks alongside them but also doing observational drawings. The idea is that I will use those sketches, kind of like my sketchbooking and use those as reference to create a body of work. I want to do something to celebrate not only the beauty of the landscape but also the people who care for the land and their contribution of time, effort and commitment. It’s been really interesting. I've learnt a lot from both the other volunteers and from DPA’s ecologist who sometimes goes out with us. I feel like knowing a little more about what I’m looking at has improved my drawing. I wanted to work out whether working on the land informs my creative response to it. I’m in the middle of finding that out. It’s all thanks to the ‘Let’s Make Change’ programme with Plymouth Culture and Art & Energy that I went on to do the DPA residency.
Image - Sue Vaughton
What are your plans for the future?
Keep on keeping on basically, I don’t have specific plans. Apart from working on and exhibiting the results and process of my art residency with the Dartmoor Preservation Association next year. I want to carry on doing what I’m doing, I do feel like I have lots of opportunities for exhibiting and getting involved in things and being inspired here.
Do you have any future exhibitions planned?
Yes, I have the Plymouth Art Weekender coming up and I’m actually going to be involved in three different events. I’m really excited to be curating an exhibition. ‘Making My Mark’ is an exhibition of artwork by people supported by the charity Hamoaze House, developed in their creative art group. Hamoaze House is a therapeutic community supporting the recovery of people affected by substance use and trauma. I’m also taking part in ‘Nature, Nostalgia, Place’ - with two other talented artists in my local area, Heather Knight and Zuleika Fray. We’ll be showcasing pieces that explore individual viewpoints on themes of - yep, you’ve guessed it nature, nostalgia and place. Then finally I will be opening my actual attic space at ‘Grow’ as the whole building opens its doors for Plymouth Art Weekender!
Erica’s work is such a joy to see. The colour and depth in her paintings, drawings and prints are truly stunning. I for one have really enjoyed learning more about her practice, her horticulture, and where she draws her inspiration from.
Be sure to go and see her work during Plymouth Art Weekender 16th-18th October at any of the three venues listed below:
‘Nature, Nostalgia, Place’ at The Talk Shop,3 Wyndham Place, Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1 5EE.
12-4pm with a closing party on Sunday 18th 4-6pm.
‘Making My Mark’ - Art from Hamoaze House Community, Hamoaze House Charity Shop, 21 Bishops place, Plymouth, PL1 3BW open 16-17th October, 9am-5pm.
Grow Plymouth - 14 Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AQ
Erica's Attic Studio will be open on Sunday the 18th of October 11am-3pm.
