James Murch

Part 2: Bringing the Vision to Life As the days have passed, I’ve found myself both invigorated and daunted by the task at hand. It wasn’t until this week—at the end of January, with the March 16th deadline looming—that I began to feel a cautious optimism about completing these works on time and allowing enough time for them to dry. While I can’t say I’m entirely satisfied with them yet, each painting has started to take shape. The Second Painting: A View of Nature The second painting, a view from one of the Abbey’s windows, feels more naturalistic and immersive. Here, I’m working to draw the viewer into the scene, using the interplay of light and shadow to guide their gaze. This piece has come together with less worry; there’s a freedom in capturing the verdant aspects of nature. The First Painting: Complexity in the Dining Hall In contrast, the first painting—set in the Abbey’s dining hall—has presented far more challenges. The scene is layered with intricate details: a richly patter...

 I was recently awarded a residency at the historic Torre Abbey, a former monastery built in 1196. After Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Abbey was purchased by the Cary family, who owned much of the surrounding land, including Cockington Court, just up the road. Cockington Court, now council-owned along with Torre Abbey, runs a scheme that allows creatives like me to rent studio space. Torre Abbey recently secured a significant restoration grant to address damage caused by water ingress—much of it linked to outdated cement render and the inevitable wear of time. As part of the restoration effort, my residency is part of an initiative to engage the public, showcasing how art can connect people to this historic site while supporting local creatives who often face limited opportunities in the area. The residency brief was to create immersive artwork reflecting the concept of nature reclaiming the Abbey. For me, it was also an opportunity to push myself and paint on a ...

Happy New Year It’s 2025, and starting (yet another) new blog feels like a more achievable goal than pretending those last mince pies don’t exist or committing to a gym membership I won’t use. Over the years, I’ve mothballed a few blogs. I enjoy writing, but I tend to reread my posts and cringe. Honesty is great—until it’s staring back at you in your own words. I’m not a writer, but as a full-time artist, creativity is part of what I do. That said, the actual process of making art often feels overshadowed by the constant juggling act of turning it into a livelihood. Selling my work hasn’t exactly been a straightforward journey. I’ve been creating for a long time, but it’s only in the last five years that I’ve started selling consistently. Sometimes I wonder why it took me so long, but looking back, I think I just wasn’t ready. There’s so much pressure on young artists to make that leap into selling. Personally, I’ve benefited immensely from spending years focused solely on learning and...