 Graduate Residency Award Winner 2025 I was so excited when I found out I was selected for the Graduate Residency Award, it felt like the light at the end of the postgrad tunnel to have the opportunity to spend two uninterrupted weeks in such a beautiful area of Wales I used to visit as a child. Trying to balance my practice with a full time job was proving difficult but having Mawddach as my first residency allowed me to get back in the flow of making; no distractions just fully immersed in nature. Just what I needed. Upon arrival at Morfa Mawddach station with a cargo bike packed full of materials I ‘might’ need, Alex Morante (my co-resident who was coincidentally on the same train) and I were greeted by the wonderful Jake and Scarlett. Feeling immediate comfort as they welcomed usinto their home. And so it began. I didn’t have much of a plan, just to explore and see where the landscape took me. Waking up to the view of the estuary the next morning made me motivated for the day ahead. I hadn’t planned where the day might take me, as I was slightly overwhelmed by the options after spending the evening scanning maps and brochures of the area. So, I decided to just get lost…resulting in a lot of pushing my bike up steep hills and tiny footpaths. I knew it had been a successful day when I returned with almost an entire seagull skeleton and lots of driftwood. Getting lost isn’t so bad. Wading through mud, internally reciting ‘were going on a bear hunt…’ Stumble, tripping across a family of abandoned sheep carcases. Watching the birds’ dynamics from the kitchen window with a coffee. Boiled eggs by Arthog waterfalls. On the move monoprints. Freezing cold swims. Undulating forms of the estuary. Solo pints with my sketchbook. An abundance of bones. Semi dangerous rock clambering, trying to shortcut footpaths to avoid turning back on myself. Conversations about death and God? Scarlett’s rib cage shaped pasta. Eerie chunky sheep and emo horses. My first experience cycling on seaweed. The curious sternum bone. Albums which will forever be associated with Mawaddah. Mine and Alex’s combined pile of fairytale books on the studio windowsill. Watching the changing weather and tides. Crying over sheep multiple times. No pressure, endless drawing, collecting and creating.
I left Mawddach Residency full of wonder and inspiration, my desk is now spilling with drawings, sketchbooks and collections. Thank you Jake Scarlett and Toby the cat for the most wonderful experience, I am forever grateful. Freyja Needle website
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