Women of Cornwall will create a new collection of 50 plates highlighting and celebrating significant women of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Our fantastic friend and patron, and new Gorsedh Kernow Bard Sue Hill, has been nominated to be featured in this fantastic project – congratulations Sue!
Here, Lynsey Robinson shares why she nominated Sue for the project:
“Sue has an incredible body of work in theatre, sculpture and interpretation in Cornwall and around the world. From being a major part of Kneehigh Theatre and subsequently WildWorks, creating well known local sculptures like the Giants Head at Heligan Gardens and being Artistic Director at Eden Project, Sue has been a champion of the arts in Cornwall for decades. Sue has also been on many boards and supported the endeavours of others to ensure art is part of the fabric of Cornwall.
I first met Sue at university in her role at the innovative and still being built, Eden Project, she was visited our 3D Design course scouting for talent. My tutor asked if I would share my work and from there, Sue commissioned me to make a Wishing Tree installation at Eden and subsequently gave me my first job. She is a power house of a woman to watch in meetings: creativity pours out of her and she is captivating to watch on stage and in real life. Sue always remembers places and people and has never lost her curiosity or the willingness to learn from everyone.
Born and raised in Cornwall Sue briefly left for university but returned in 1988 to begin work with Kneehigh Theatre. A true devotee of Cornwall Sue has used the arts to engage communities with theatre and enabled connections to the landscape in exciting and meaningful ways.
Some people just have a verve for life and Sue is one of those people. Inspiring and passionate, Sue did Shakespeare for the first time a few years back in a production of the Tempest at Trebah Gardens. Her Prospero was mesmerising, the final speech was so well delivered she had the entire audience in the palm of her hand – magic!”
This project is in collaboration with ceramic artist Katie Bunnell. The plates will become a permanent collection at Art Centre Penryn.
Read more about Women of Cornwall here and follow the project on Instagram here.