Vega Brennan

Lots of things coming together – Aballava fort (now Burgh by Sands) was possibly named after an apple orchard, ‘Burgh Beauty’ is a rare apple cultivar, a Moorish detachment of soldiers posted here in 3rd century CE…there were many elements I wanted to incorporate in the final image.

This small Cumbrian village has a fascinating, turbulent history but somehow it all turned out rather peaceful. Mohammed, who is Equality and Diversity Officer for Cumbria Fire and Rescue was my model, happily eating an apple outside the Norman doorway at St. Michael’s Church, Burgh which is built of Roman stones from the fort. He has been campaigning for recognition of the diverse history of Hadrian’s Wall and the need to show this in the information signs, exhibitions and literature about the Wall.

I used drypoint, as it’s very similar to drawing and I wanted to focus on the mark-making and the delicacy of the textures of the building. Printed on Fabriano Unica, edition of 4: one for me, one for Mohammed, one for the village and one for the exhibition.