I am excited to be starting a new project this January MAERL: an art science research and development project, the seed of which I’ve had in mind for many years and has arisen out of my passion for seaweed and coastal ecology.

Maerl, is a coral-like seaweed that grows on the seabed of Celtic inshore waters and is massively important to our marine ecosystems, unfortunately it is rarely seen and is under threat.

With the support of an award from Creative Scotland, I am now looking into the life story of Maerl, to understand its crucial environmental value above and below the ocean surface. 

It’s incredibly exciting and I am beginning with immersing myself in the sea bed films made by Little Green Island Films, shot locally in the Wester Ross – Marine Protected Area and Nature Scots Maerl bed habitat reports

I will be envisaging and testing out cross-art-form and performative ways to tell Maerl’s story, in an accessible way. To help me do this I am delighted to have project support of Maerl expert and Professor of Marine Biology, Jason Hall-Spencer, Producer, Mahri Reilly & Theatre Mentors, SURGE

My aim is for this R&D to result in a pre-production treatment, with a view to a future performative/installation production. I want the end MAERL production to be accessible to all and excite people to care about Maerl and ocean sustainability.