A year of nature walks and hands-on ceramics has left a permanent, accessible trail of artwork across one of Shropshire’s best-loved landscapes. High above the Shropshire countryside, eleven small ceramic plaques now mark the spot where eleven people found something they didn’t expect: confidence, connection, and a permanent place in the landscape. The signs are the result of Open Horizons, a project supporting people with care needs to explore and leave their creative stamp on the Shropshire Hills. Backed by Defra’s Access for All capital programme and delivered by the Shropshire Hills National Landscape team alongside Shropshire Council, the initiative paired participants from My Options Telford & Wrekin with artist Roz Donati of Pneuma Affinity CIC, who guided the group from first nature walk to finished artwork. Eleven artists carve their mark on the Shropshire Hills. Clay, countryside and Connection It began, fittingly, outdoors. Over the past year, the group – Emily, Oliver, David, Luke, Stephen, Jack, Jasmine, Fraser, Ellie, Kaif and Abbie – took part in guided walks, workshops and outdoor sessions across the Hills, many visiting and engaging with the landscape in ways they hadn’t had the chance, or the confidence, to before. From there, each artist designed and handmade a ceramic sign representing a specific viewpoint, translating the views, textures and atmosphere of the Hills into clay. Those signs are now fixed permanently at accessible viewpoints across the landscape – a public art trail that doubles as a quiet statement about who the countryside belongs to. Photographs of the artists and their personal statements about the work sit alongside the signs online at www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk where visitors can explore each location in turn.
For the Council, the project speaks to something bigger than art. It’s a tangible answer to the question of how green spaces can be made genuinely open to everyone, regardless of ability or prior experience of the outdoors. The trail is now open and waiting to be walked. The Council is encouraging anyone visiting the Shropshire Hills to seek out the accessible viewpoints and see the work for themselves.
“To see their art permanently on the landscape is incredible – I’m immensely proud of every artist, and of Roz’s brilliant support.” Councillor Paul Watling Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Independent Living.
Find more information on Accessible Viewpoints at www.telford.gov.uk/AccessibleViewpoints
TOTALLY TELFORD
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