Rachael Mellors, Illumination

Rachael has developed a series of digital photographs of her shadow on the cliff face, taken in the few moments after the sun rises, over several weeks of the year. She captures the momentary shadow imprint of her body embedded with layers of soils and impregnated with shell fragments and fossils, layered over millions of years.

The spring 2020 lockdown in the UK created a temporary quietness unknown for a 100 years, enabling an opportunity to appreciate nature more fully in urban areas. She feels we need to carry forward a more deeply bonded relationship with the natural world as a catalyst for ecological recovery, alongside political and collective action.

Rachael has a BA in Fine Art from Portsmouth University and MA in Ceramics from the Royal College of Art.