Annie Luke Turner

The canvas has become a landscape and a story in itself, like the shapes of the buildings of a long-gone village revealed in the colours of sun scorched turf.

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Annie’s parents, Wendy and Les, were keen climbers. Happy and wild childhood holidays were spent camping in Crafnant, Wales and Loch Torriden, Scotland. Educated in the 70s, Annie struggled with reading and writing and was not considered as 'academic'. She later learned as an adult that this was down to her undiagnosed dyslexia which she now regards as a strength. This alternative way of learning has allowed Annie to harness her vivid imagination and creative perception. This combined with her deep love of nature from exploring valleys and mountains, manifests in her work.

Her mum Wendy was always fascinated by the stories landscapes can tell. It was clearly a family trait: Wendy’s uncle, Leslie Peter Wenham https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Peter_Wenham
was a noted archaeologist responsible for many of the major excavations of York in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

The love of stories and the landscape still runs strong in Wendy - who would march Annie and her brother Keith around the English landscape searching for every possible trace of ancient monument that the map showed.

Archaeology remains a strong feature of Annie’s work seen in the layers and marks, the traces of what was once visible but which now lies beneath the surface.

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For further insight into Annie's process, please watch this short film created about the way she works here.