Agricultural landscape

I have come to appreciate the modern agricultural landscape with its formal ordered beauty as an artist who seeks pattern in whatever environment I inhabit. Unlike gardens and Environmental art, agriculture has no explicit aesthetic aim. It represents a functional and utilitarian form of environment and livelihood. I am excited by the incidental beauty of the marks that the farmer imposes on the landscape.

Living in Agricultural South West Scotland affords me a year round understanding of the working, changing landscape. I am attuned to the farmer’s progression through the seasons and delight at the sight of a new page in the agricultural diary.

However, with the modern agricultural landscape and intensive farming techniques come various environmental issues such as fertilisers and pesticides (which give fields their perfect appearance) and the destruction of vital habitat and hedgerows in favour of larger fields. There is the risk of an imbalance of technology over nature. It is with some sense of irony that I admire the modern agricultural landscape, as morally I would opt for traditional farming methods.

Silage tyres	Hedgerow	Fieldscapes
Maize fields	Barley and potatoes