Helen Nock
Helen Nock’s work emerges from a balanced relationship between finding and imagining. Her work needs to be planned and functionally feasible, but her highly individual surfaces are inspired by memories, thoughts and feelings; ideas evoked and the actual materials she is drawn to. Helen grew up immersed in rural and coastal environments, in the old ways of make-do-and-mend and deeply connected with nature.
The details and remembered joys and challenges of those experiences, a practical intelligence and love of ancient, weathered, ambiguous objects, architecture, and slower hand-driven technologies are all reflected in her work.
The majority of the surfaces are formed slate reclaimed from local Somerset yards and Cornwall, sea-worn glass, ship-wrecked pottery, durable metal, and anything else interesting she acquires. She also uses stained and handmade Smalti glass for special effects and/or mosaic sections. The furniture and sculpture substrates and adhesives are made using high-quality exterior materials. Care of the pieces is minimal and she recommends wax polishing or painting with water-based sealer periodically to preserve the slate and grout indefinitely. The metal bases and armature are hand-forged by Nathan Bennett from her designs. The metal is galvanised - dipped in molten zinc unless otherwise stated.
Visitor tickets
Visitor tickets from £7.50 for one day, which includes all talks and exhibitions.
Get Tickets