An introduction to Field System
Upcoming Exhibitions in our Art Gallery
Since our pop-up show Brighten Ye Corners finished at Christmas, we have been very busy renovating our space in a beautiful double-fronted Georgian townhouse in Ashburton on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon. We are now very excited to share our gallery programme for the first half of 2024…
Sarah Hoskins, Enormous: March 28th - 20th April
Influenced by the sensibilities of mid-century modernism, particularly cubism and biomorphism, Sarah creates joyously coloured semi-abstracted paintings that draw on mask traditions, the decorative arts, textile design, and historical costumes. For her show at Field System Sarah is, ‘working towards communicating as clearly and concisely as possible, something of the miraculous, the beautiful, the strange and the ridiculous, amongst other things.’
Lucy Wright, ’Oss Girls: 1st -18th May
Hobby horses and horse girls; folklore, fetish + consent, this exhibition by artist and folklorist Lucy Wright takes as its starting point the folk archetype of the hobby horse, in particular the well-known ’Obby ’Oss tradition which takes place each May in Padstow, North Cornwall. Her new show examines how folk practices of all kinds might help us to navigate changing attitudes towards gender and intimacy.
Lucy is an Artist and Research Fellow in Folklore at the University of Hertfordshire whose work spans painting, textiles, participation and performance.
Mimei Thompson, The Drowned Forest: 23rd May - 15th June
Mimei makes paintings using images chosen for their symbolic and archetypal qualities. The worlds she creates have a sense of fluidity and vitality; a suggestion that matter is temporarily taking on and changing form. The Drowned Forest is a gathering of spirits; a search for threads, origins and beginnings. Mimei is based in London and has been selected for Jerwood Contemporary Painters, the Contemporary British Painting Prize, and the John Moores Painting Prize in 2023.
Man In The Woods, Artefacts from My Friday Walk: 20th June - 6th July
The artist known as Man In the Woods, based in South West England, uses walking and the recording of folkloric motifs he encounters to make objects that tell a story about contemporary rural Britain. Artefacts from My Friday Walk is Man In The Wood's first gallery show, bringing together a body of work which reflects the experiences and encounters made on his weekly Friday Walks.
South Dartmoor Community College Student Show: 11th - 16th July
A showcase of our local secondary school’s students' work created, curated and hosted by the students, supported by ourselves and professional artists throughout the process.
Rob Ryan, In The Merry Month of May: 20th July - 31st August
Rob Ryan is a British visual artist who specialises in paper-cutting and screen-printing, his work tells heartfelt stories; some amusing, some poignant, some melancholic. He is also the elected Master at The Artworkers’ Guild for 2024, where he has instigated The Salon of Doubt. For our summer show, Rob is presenting ALL the work he will make in his London studio in the space of one month, reflecting on process, procrastination, surety and doubt.
Our Shop
We are currently readying our shop space and we hope to open at the end of April ‘24. We have some amazing pieces from truly wonderful makers and we are delighted to share that we’ll be stocking vessels by Kopf Pottery, jewellery by Studio Rua, Tarot by Unquiet Arcadian and prints by She Dissolves, Stephen Fowler and Rachel Snowdon Studio, and that’s just for starters! We will also be selling our own Field System cards, wrap, clothing and bags, along with some new lines that we are developing exclusively for our Ashburton store.
About us
Field System is named after a historic, topographic feature that patterns the landscapes and maps of Dartmoor. This relic of early land use speaks of people in the landscape; of being involved in our surroundings; of ingenuity, community and folk. We also feel it evokes discourse on freedom, equality, access and fairness - things that are important to us. We are Milly Brown and Mark Jessett and we have worked in the creative industries for over 25 years. During our careers in the art, art education and design sectors we have amassed a broad experience in representing both ourselves and others in exhibition, print publication and on digital and social platforms. Find us at @field.system on Instagram and follow as our story unfolds.
Cheers, Mark and Milly