Artizan Gallery is an independent fine art gallery dedicated to championing the work of local artists in the South West. Their inviting gallery space offers a professional, affordable venue for both experienced and emerging artists, as well as providing a venue for events, groups and workshops. Working from their base in the English Riviera, the gallery also manages pop-up spaces across Torbay and the South West. FIND OUT MORE
Translating the Earth: Artizan Gallery’s ‘Strata Stories’ Merges Art, Science, and Storytelling to Celebrate Torbay’s Geological Heritage
TORQUAY, DEVON – Coinciding with the 2026 Geopark Festival, Artizan Collective Gallery invites audiences to discover the hidden narratives of the English Riviera in Strata Stories. Running from 19 to 31 May 2026, this collaborative exhibition celebrates Torbay’s designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark by exploring the rich intersection of contemporary creative practice, science, and 400 million years of geological history.
Featuring a curated selection of works from resident studio members alongside guest artists, the collection is deeply rooted in tactile, elemental mediums. From raw ceramics and printmaking to works crafted on handmade parchment, a profound dialogue emerges. Just as the physical textures of the environment shape the artists’ practices, their art, in turn, reveals the hidden landscape of the Geopark. Through this creative lens, the complex geology and foundational science behind Torbay’s global designation become visible, accessible, and deeply human.
Art, Science, and Storytelling
Science focuses on the how and why of the universe, frequently relying on rigorous structure that can sometimes remove the human element from its ideas. Yet, separating empirical facts from creative expression is a relatively modern concept; for centuries, studying the natural world inherently meant drawing it and narrating its mechanisms.
When encountering complex scientific information – like the staggering geological history beneath our feet – artistic approaches often step in to visualize the invisible. Ultimately, humans are biologically and psychologically wired to understand the world through narrative. Strata Stories takes raw data and translates it into a relatable endeavour driven by curiosity, proving that art and storytelling do not just decorate science; they act as vital translators.
“There are few places where you can sit on a historic reef and look out at the ocean—Torbay is one of them. Our geology is incredibly unique, and we should be celebrating the amazing stories hidden within our local rocks. But this exhibition is about so much more than just rocks. By merging the lenses of art and science, we’ve created a diverse experience that explores how our geology and resulting culture have inspired new artworks. I hope people connect more deeply with the landscape. It’s about starting a conversation on how we engage with that space, and showing that anyone can step into the Geopark and celebrate their own Strata Stories.” Grace Clifford, Curator
Thin Sections & The Art of Microscopy
Nowhere is this translation more evident than in the hidden microscopic world that lies beneath the coastal landscapes of the Geopark. Central to the exhibition is the exploration of the “thin section” – a slice of rock ground to a mere 30 microns thick. Under a polarising microscope, these slivers undergo a spectacular transformation as the physics of light and double refraction reveal brilliant interference colours and intricate patterns.
Drawing on her academic background in geology, Grace utilises etching, sketching, and digital media to reveal these microscopic intricacies. By translating the visual language of mineralogy into contemporary printmaking, her practice uncovers the hidden structures of the earth, building a dynamic dialogue between evidence and feeling. Complementing this microscopic focus will be a monumental, large-scale installation paying tribute to Torbay’s London Bridge, connecting the unseen building blocks of our natural world to its most famous, geological landmarks.
A Full Programme of Earth Stories
To further bridge the gap between human experience and the natural world, Strata Stories features a comprehensive multidisciplinary programme of events, inviting audiences to engage directly with the Geopark’s heritage:
- Strata Stories: Exhibition Launch (18 May, 18:00 – 20:00): Join the artists for an exclusive first look at the exhibition and the official kick-off to the Geopark Festival celebrations.
- Create a Ceramic Geopark Scene (20, 23, 27, 30 May, 13:00 – 16:00): Studio ceramicist Hannah Taylor guides participants in hand-building their own Torbay scenes using textured, earthy stoneware clays.
- Strata Stories: Behind the Work (21 May, 18:30 – 20:00): A captivating evening talk and Q&A with resident printmaker and geologist Grace Clifford, delving into the concepts behind the showcase and the fundamentals of geology.
- Geology in Print: Printmaking Workshop (25 May, 10:00 – 14:30): An immersive drypoint printmaking workshop with Grace Clifford, using the exhibition and rock textures as inspiration.
- Geopark – Behind the Lens: Film Screening & Fireside Chat (25 May, 18:30 – 20:00): A special screening of Geopark-commissioned films by local filmmaker John Tomkins, followed by a panel discussion on documenting dramatic coastal environments.
- Superplants & Microorganisms: Seagrass Stories (27 May, 18:30 – 20:00): Dive into Torbay’s marine ecosystems with Megan Ross (Ocean Conservation Trust) discussing seagrass, and Dr Jodie Fisher (University of Plymouth) uncovering the microscopic world of Foraminifera.
- Earth Stories: Tales from the Global Geoparks (29 May, 18:30 – 20:00): A highlight fireside chat with Geopark Patron and celebrated geoscience communicator, Professor Iain Stewart MBE, exploring the geology beneath our feet.
- Fun with Print: Make a Concertina Style Book (1 June, 10:00 – 16:30): Artist Alexandra Robb leads a hands-on workshop creating monoprints from nature, seaweeds, and linocuts inspired by the Geopark’s wildlife.
For more information, a full list of exhibiting artists, and to book event tickets, please visit: https://www.art-hub.co.uk/ex/geo26
Event Details:
- What: Strata Stories Exhibition
- When: 19 – 31 May 2026
- Where: Artizan Collective Gallery, Unit 5, Fleet Walk, 74 Fleet St, Torquay TQ2 5EB
- Admission: Free entry to the exhibition (Event ticketing varies; booking recommended online)
For more information, visit www.artizangallery.co.uk or follow @artizangallery on social media.