Edie Evans (b.1995, UK) is the current Freelands Fellow at Swansea College of Art. Holding a Masters with Distinction from Bath Spa School of Art (2023) and a BA (Hons) from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (2018).

As a conscientious and value-driven artist, Edie’s practice explores the intersection of ecology, neurodiversity, and materiality, with a focus on clay. Recently recognised as Promising New Talent by the British Ceramic Biennial, her desire to take an ethical approach has driven a shift beyond conventional materials and processes into exploring found objects, gathered materials, and natural processes, offering a meaningful testament to her unique engagement with the natural world as a neurodivergent Artist. Her practise is deeply rooted in tactile processes, encompassing the act of walking and exploring the ever-changing edges of UK landscape and coastline. In this immersive exploration, she consciously collects traces and forges connections, becoming a part of the unfolding narratives and understanding the provenance of the places she encounters.

There is a habitual and embodied process as she harvests and utilises foraged materials and a rhythm and relationship inherent in the act of her instinctive making with them. She develops a dialogue between place, material and herself as the maker through the collaborative transformation of raw materials. Edie's distinctive material language becomes a tool for environmental engagement, embodying her commitment to sustainable artistic practices. At the core of her practise lies an authentic conversation with raw materials, a dialogue that allows these elements to form their own identities and communicate the intricate complexity of knowledge they inherently hold. This exploration extends beyond the physical landscape to the stratigraphy of landscapes, unraveling layers that have been shaped by the passage of thousands or millions of years.

Beyond the exploration of stratigraphy, her practise delves deep into the reciprocal relationship between material and the earth, ultimately creating a circular understanding of provenance in this meticulous and thoughtful artistic endeavor. Serving not just as a record of her experiences but as a testament to the profound wealth of materials the natural world provides throughout its enduring cycles. Embracing the alchemy of extracting colour and material directly from nature, Edie allows these elements to dye and stain, cultivating a deep care for the environment. Her work goes beyond mere observation, encouraging active audience engagement through interactive elements that invite thoughtful and emotional responses. In this manner, Edie skillfully fosters a connection between the audience and the natural world, sparking reflections on our relationship with the environment.