The creative pull of Dartmoor

By Jemima Laing
BBC Devon

Dartmoor's "ever-changing palette of textures" is the inspiration for a new exhibition of paintings, photographs and music in Devon.

Mark Abdey moved to Devon 13 years ago and only started to paint once he relocated here from the South East.

"I fell in love with Dartmoor following a family holiday when I was a teenager," said Mark.

The exhibition is on at Dartmoor National Park Authority's High Moorland Visitor Centre until 18 November 2009.

Photographs are part of the exhibition too

"I have worked only as an artist since living in Devon, first painting tiny detailed watercolours and then five years ago moving to broader, looser oils," said Mark.

"Over the past year I began to experiment with painting in acrylic and photography alongside the oil painting, to keep things fresh and interesting."

The exhibition - Dartmoor Water and Light- also marks the release of Mark's first CD album, Sea of Grass, which features 12 tracks of multi-instrumental music inspired by the moor.

He says music has always been a "powerful force" in his life, but he had always lacked the confidence to create it himself.

This changed when he heard the flutes made by Dartmoor composer, musician and traditional flute-maker Nigel Shaw.

"It was a sound I instantly connected with, linking music directly to the landscape I love."

Nigel made Mark a silver birch flute that started him on a musical journey which led to the creation of the album.

"I hope over the coming years to develop all these strands and even spread my wings further with video work, the possibilities are endless and very exciting, though I sometimes wish I was 20 years younger."

This is a detail of Mark's painting, East Bovey

He is currently working on his second music project called Soundings, with material gathered entirely on Dartmoor and he is unequivocal about the inspiration his surroundings offer.

"Dartmoor offers the artist an ever-changing palette of textures to be inspired and challenged by, rapidly-changing weather, large seasonal contrasts and a multifaceted terrain - from the wild and stark, to the chocolate-box pretty," he said.

"It's the wild landscape that excites me most, that makes me feel alive and creative."