Interpreting Nature

Nature and Me

For many years I’ve been working with people, creating artwork and writing stories, poetry and articles in the stunning landscapes of the Peak District. I'm driven by the desire to help people interpret and appreciate their natural environment and local heritage through art, writing, consultancy support and project management.

On these pages you have the opportunity to browse and buy my pictures, be transported by my words, and engage with me in making the most of your personal experience with nature. If one or more of these three strings to my bow appeals to you, please read on.

Art and Writing

Nature inspires me to paint, write and engage with people. I'm fortunate that I have made the time to develop my skills, and I'm passionate to share them with you.

Nature connections and ways to wellbeing are intertwined and an awareness of and love for nature opens the door to encouraging greater care for it, needed now more than ever. The Peak District, is not just about nature, it also holds a host of fascinating stories; unlocking the heritage deepens your sense of place in the landscape and enriches your experience.

Following a degree in Performing Arts in the 80s and a spell working in Theatre-in-Education in Manchester, I was a primary school teacher for 11 years. I left to work for the National Trust in the Dark Peak where I jumped straight into leading school groups up Mam Tor and into Winnats Pass, both spectacular places with an abundance of history and stories to share. I worked in partnership with the Peak District National Park to open and manage the Moorland Discovery Centre, a lifelong learning base on the Sheffield edge of the national park.

Work Experience

My work for the National Trust reached across the Peak District and focused on curating visitor experiences in beautiful places, where nature thrives and fascinating stories lie. I led the shift from a weather-dependent, often poorly-attended events schedule to a programme of seasonal themed activity. Nature-connected woodland trails throughout spring, summertime play equipment on the grass, self-led maps for wildflower meadow wanders and heritage highlights walks. Observations and reviews informed us that many of our family visitors were confident explorers. I wrote a strategy for natural play to encourage more families to make the same experiences and memories for their kids. Natural play trails were installed at Longshaw and Ilam Park, enabling more families to get out into nature all year round.

I've managed a range of small and large scale arts and interpretation projects, all connected to landscape heritage and nature. Art offers such a powerful opportunity to engage everyone, shining a new light on stories, deepening connections to places and giving people a voice. Highlights of my career include bringing Studio Roosegaard’s ‘Waterlicht’ to Winnats Pass in 2018 and working with the inspirational Jeremy Deller, Jarvis Cocker and INSTAR to celebrate the story of the Kinder Mass Trespass in 2019.

Another Door Opens

The events of 2020 hit the National Trust hard and my post was one of the casualties. As visitor numbers to the countryside increase and new audiences are coming in their thousands, boots on the ground are needed to offer an informative and friendly welcome.

I’m now using my experience, knowledge and skills to offer consultancy support and project management to connect people with nature and heritage.

If you're interested in working with me, look at the Consultancy page for information.

While you're here, please check out my Artwork, which is for sale as mounted prints or greetings cards, and my Writing, which may interest you personally or professionally.

Waterlicht - credit Chris Foster