Helvellyn- Lake District

When hiking up Helvellyn in July 2026, I was obsessed with the bright green lichen on the rocks. Paired with the rugged landscape and the composition of the rocks, I found this hike to be very inspiring for my work.

The layered, sharp edged rocks provide inspiration for surface texture and form- The fine line between balance and collapse. Even just the rocks faces provide information when thinking about layers of slabs, line details and colour. Cracks in the surface, can break the form into two halves, an interesting idea to play with when arranging clay slabs.

When looking out on the horizon, I see layers. The foreground, background, middle ground of the image. I also see these as slabbed layers. Blue slip slab, layered under a textured slab.

The green lichen is a slip or glaze inspiration. The small areas of application can add that colour contrast. This idea of the artificial colour in contrast to the earthy tones. However, not so artificial here as this bright lime green is naturally occuring!

Layers created depth and shadow- balance and collapse, crumbling.

Dramatic slopping, the rugged horizon of striding edge, the depth of blue of lake- Could create some interesting around form using these focus points.

Balance and collapse again- the outline of the rocks slicing through the image- framing it.

This rock face as a form- the cracked and layered surface, spots of texture and colour.

The crack or line down the middle, separating the rock face visually. Bold green lichen patches, mossy textured patches.

Again, the crack adding some visual interest, one form becomes two.

Layers upon layers of lichen, moss and erosion.