Shifting Waterscapes is a multi-sensory exhibition at THG in Devon that brings together sound, storytelling, film and printmaking to explore the fragile ecologies of wetlands and waterways. Conceived by multidisciplinary artists Ellen Wiles and Arun Sood, the project immerses visitors in the landscapes of the nearby Otterhead Lakes nature reserve through a layered installation of audio, imagery and large-scale printed works.
Central to the exhibition are a series of monumental screen printed canvases created by Devon-based printmaker Emma Molony. The works translate the ecological complexity of the lakes into visual form, using intricate patterns and organic marks that echo the textures of wetland habitats.
The project began as a collaborative response to the Otterhead Lakes reserve, an area rich in biodiversity that includes wet woodland, deciduous woodland, freshwater streams, grassland and bog ecosystems. Wiles and Sood recorded field sounds directly at the lakes, weaving together ambient recordings, poetic fragments and improvised live musical performances to create an atmospheric audio composition that fills the gallery space.
Molony’s contribution adds a tactile, visual dimension to the installation. Working across more than 42 metres of canvas, she screen printed large repeating patterns derived from plant forms found in springline mires and surrounding habitats. The canvases were then further transformed through painting and staining with natural materials.
“I loved the challenge of screenprinting over 42 metres of canvas using micro plant materials from springline mires,” Molony explains. “It’s the first time I’ve combined painting with oak gall ink—something I made at home—alongside screen print repeat patterns.”
The collaborative process also involved extensive experimentation with natural pigments, inks and exposure techniques at Double Elephant Print Workshop in Exeter.
“Arun, Ellen and I experimented with pigments, inks and exposure times for the drawings and plants to create screens,” Molony says. “We were helped enormously by the brilliant Esme Cooper at Double Elephant.”
Beyond the gallery installation, the project also expanded into community engagement. Molony led a series of printmaking workshops connected to the exhibition, inviting participants to explore water, plants and local ecosystems through hands-on printing activities. The workshops included family drop-in sessions at THG, school visits, and sessions with families seeking asylum as well as resettled families in local community centres.
Emma Molony is an artist printmaker based in Devon. Alongside producing her own prints and wallpaper designs, she runs workshops using portable presses that bring printmaking into schools, prisons, hospitals, galleries and community spaces. She also works closely with Double Elephant Print Workshop, developing collaborative projects that connect printmaking with other artistic disciplines.
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