National Glass Centre

Near and Far is a collection of photo works by Ingrid Pollard resulting from a 3-month artist-in-residence project at Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands in 1999. Lindisfarne (Holy Island) is owned by the National Trust, who invited Ingrid to respond to the island and the area’s dramatic coastline by producing a body of work; the first time an artist had been asked to do so.

Sweeping panoramic views to intricate close-ups of lichens and rock formations and even the National Trust Wardens themselves, going about their tasks recording patterns of migrating birds or monitoring the growth of vegetation, are the focus of her study.

Ingrid was aware of the long cultural history of the Farne Islands as a religious settlement when making this work. The islands’ are also a rich and valuable nature reserve; an important ecological area for the breeding ground of birds and seals in Britain. The work of the National Trust Wardens involves careful data collection; watching and listening, measuring and collating in a methodical way, over long periods of time. Their patient observations build a picture of the ecological well-being of the islands and their wildlife. It is this attitude of observation that Ingrid has brought to her photographs of the area.