We caught up with Alison Cook, an alumnus of the Porthmeor Programme Online, as she talks through her practice, inspirations and how the Porthmeor Programme changed the way she approached her work.

How would you describe your art practice?

My practice responds to themes around our interconnectedness to the natural world and how these connections offer parallels with the everyday intricacies of the human experience. My background is in Textiles and Fashion Retail and this background feeds into my Painting Practice. Since completing an MA at the RCA my work has moved into the expanded field of painting. I construct 3D assemblages and stages using packaging and recycled materials and these are an integral part of my painting practice.

What does your daily routine look like?

Once the Kids are off to school I try and get out for a run or a walk. I use this time to look, think and reflect. I collect natures detritus and bring elements back to the studio to look at closely and in a different context.  I work in short fragments of time and my working day ends mid-afternoon. Any admin I need to do around my practice is done in the evenings. My studio is at home, and I live rurally so I try and get to London regularly to see shows and do gallery visits.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your art? How does that feed into your practice?

Walking and running have become an integral part of my initial research. The cycles of the seasons set the pace, yet we often resist these natural patterns in our own lives and relationships. I record these intricate shifts whilst walking or running. I have been researching walking as a philosophical practice and getting outdoors every day clears my head and sets me up for the day. I do the same when I travel and am interested in researching place through the wild plants that grow along the sides of roads or on verges.

Who inspires you as an artist?

As my work has moved into 3D, I have been looking at Sculptors such as Phylidda Barlow, Maria Bartuszova, Eva Hesse, Magdalena Abakanowitz and the Italian sculptor Fausto Melotti. The Italian ‘Arte Povera’ movement has also been resonating with my practice. I have moved away from the stretched canvas just now and have been painting on cardboard, sculptors tissue and also slate.

Have you always been interested in art, or was it something you came to later in life?

I have been interested in art since I was really young and at the age of 13, I decided I was going to be an artist! My degree was in Textile Design in the 90’s and I went on to work in the fashion industry designing store concepts for fashion brands. The work was very theatrical and always evolving. I was very fortunate to work collaboratively with artists, set builders, lighting designers and carpenters so the creative process was at the core of my work. My art practice developed in earnest after I became a Mother. It felt like the right time. I started drawing on small postcards when the boys were very young. As the boys grew, so did the work.

I really needed a fresh approach and to break out of habits and blocks. The nature of the programme gave me the opportunity to really think about what I wanted to do and how to experiment in new ways.

What did you do before the Porthmeor Programme?

Before the Porthmeor Programme I was in the early stages of a painting practice. I was exhibiting and selling locally in my area and had started to take on commissions. I had also done workshops with a local school getting teenagers drawing and painting outside and looking at wild plants at the edge of the playing fields.

What drew you to the programme?

I knew the programme ran a studio course but as I live too far away from St Ives this option was impossible. The online version was something I could slot into life as the sessions were over a series of weekends. As we had all become more adept at working remotely during COVID I was curious to see how it would work.

What would you say has changed for you since the programme?

The programme was really instrumental in many changes to my practice. I really needed a fresh approach and to break out of habits and blocks. The nature of the programme gave me the opportunity to really think about what I wanted to do and how to experiment in new ways.

What is your favourite memory of the programme?

The Community! We clicked; it was a magic 6 months. Despite it all being online the group really came together in this shared experience. The Tutors were really helpful and encouraging. The emphasis was on process rather than outcome.

What made you choose the online option? How did you find interacting with tutors and fellow students solely online?

The online version of the programme enabled a degree of intimacy to the group despite not being in person. We were all in our home studios, so this was easier in some respects. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t live in Cornwall, so the online course was the only choice. After the initial reservations the conversation flowed well, and this was guided by our Tutors who introduced the concepts and activities really clearly. All the students came from such diverse disciplines and backgrounds that we were able to support each other and share our work via a Padlet pin board. We had 1-2-1 tutorials regularly and these were an opportunity to discuss our practice and exchange ideas. There was a lot of inspiring chat!

What advice would you give someone wondering whether to apply for the programme?

My advice would be to go for it! Throw yourself into it. The course was a good discipline especially if your practice is something you squeeze in between other life commitments. I was thinking of applying for a Masters Degree but felt my practice really needed a shake up and I hadn’t had a tutorial for 30 years! The Porthmeor Programme encouraged me to think conceptually and contextually whilst experimenting with new materials and processes.

What artistic achievement are you most proud of?

I feel proud to say that I have just graduated from The Royal College of Art on the 2023/24 MA Painting Programme.

Are you a full-time artist these days?

Yes, I am a full-time artist. Following my MA I am working from home where I have a great studio with lots of natural light. I am looking to get a studio in London very soon as one of the best parts of being at Art School again was the community of artists in a shared space. The connection with other artists is vital.

What does the future hold for your art?

My art career is in its earliest stages and it’s an exciting place to be. I really don’t know where it will lead is the best answer I have for this right now! I am looking at rural locations to hold a show of my work away from the standard white box setting of a Gallery. I will continue to work with community engaged projects alongside my practice as both feed into each other. Art really does connect people and that’s what it’s all about, Connection.

– Alison Cook