2018
'Queen Bee'
Pen and ink + gouache on Stonehenge paper
Bees are intelligent, magical creatures. They are incredibly important pollinators and therefore hold a close connection to the food we eat. This piece honours the magnificent honey bee.
Years ago, I was volunteering on an organic farm in Spain. Long days were spent working in the garden, eating delicious home-cooked Spanish meals and enjoying afternoon siestas. It was there that I got the chance to peek inside some bee hives. I was suited up in a bee-suit, with the swirling pine smoke around me, luring the bees out. I remember a moment of fear, as the bees buzzed around me and then a serene feeling of calm washed over my body. I stood there, looking at the honey glistening in the sun, the honeycomb and the flap of tiny wings, witnessing the beauty of everything working so seamlessly together.