University of Portsmouth   2008/2009

Jill Poole

My motivation to apply for the AA2A residency scheme was primarily to continue ongoing, self-led research, whilst engaging and sharing my artistic practice.

The time has gone exceptionally fast and I intended to do so much more, but on reflection I feel that I have achieved most of what I set out to do: I have made much use of the library resource, embarked on several field trips, and enjoyed working alongside students in the print room.

I visited Parsonage Down throughout late autumn and winter. On New Year’s Day a combination of the bitter cold and startling beauty of the countryside prompted a slightly more abstract way of working. The 10-year Anniversary of the AA2A Scheme gave me the opportunity to exhibit work inspired by these trips.

At the start of the course I was invited to give a lecture to the Illustration department, followed by a workshop; this not only enabled me to give students and staff an insight into my wider practice but also a ready-made package that I can take to other schools and colleges.

The scheme has given me the opportunity to reflect on my work and experiment in order to develop the best methodology for myself. It has opened up further avenues of investigation and helped me move forward in a new direction. It has also been a great privilege to meet the other AA2A artists; the exchange of ideas and approaches to work has been inspiring.