| Project Title | Sustainable Shades |
| Location | The National Coal Mining Museum for England, UK. |
| Date | January- March 2025. |
Artist Statement
I am a British artist based in Yorkshire, UK. My work is rooted in painting and drawing, with a strong focus on sustainable materials that are often grown, foraged, and processed by hand. Combining mark-making and fine drawn lines with layered washes of pigment, paintings evolve organically over weeks, shaped by the unique characteristics of the materials I use. At first glance, the delicate lines and layers of colour celebrate the beauty of these materials. In contrast, there is often an unsettling sense of uncontained growth, as pigments mix, spread, and contaminate neighbouring areas of the page. This reflects a fascination with the way organic forms grow and interact with their environment. Recent projects have emphasised collaboration with heritage organisations, which is becoming a growing aspect of my practice. These partnerships allow me to create encounters that engage viewers with forgotten stories, often tied to specific places and themes of sustainability. Through drawing, I explore ideas of obsession, using it as a way to express and deconstruct my anxiety, which is closely tied to my environmental concerns.
Contextual Statement
This research project, conducted at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, located at Caphouse Colliery on the western edge of the Yorkshire coalfield, explores the environmental challenges posed by historical mining activities while emphasising sustainable solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration. Ochre, produced as a byproduct of the water filtration system managed by the Mining Remediation Authority to combat water pollution, is central to the project. The project culminated in a public-facing outcome that included a pop-up exhibition, a guided tour, a talk, and a practical demonstration informed by my practice and research.
The project integrates ecological and slow art methodologies, focusing on the use of natural and waste materials to reconnect audiences with narratives of the land. Drawing forms a central part of my practice, evolving through slow, intricate processes that invite deep viewer engagement, creating a space to appreciate both the materials and their underlying environmental message. Visitor engagement was an important part of the project, allowing me to share my process and knowledge about pigments. It also opened up conversations about the choices we make as consumers and their environmental impact.
Special thanks to those who have offered support during the project: Alison Cooper, Lynn Dunning, The National Coal Mining Museum and Mining Remediation Authority for allowing me access to this wonderful resource, and photographer Gavin Joynt for documenting the public facing outcomes shown below.
Project Documentation
(Above) Ochre studies I, II, III
70 cm x 90 cm
2025
Mine water ochre on paper
(Above) Remediation III
Mine water ochre, indigo and ink on paper
70 cm x 90 cm
2025
Remediation II
Indigo and ink on paper
90 cm x 70 cm
2025
(Created at the beginning of the project before access to the ochre was granted. Exploring the interaction of pigment and water in relation to the filtering process.)
Website: https://www.louiseannwright.co.uk
Email: Info@louiseannwright.co.uk
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