Walking the Line
- Jamie Crocker
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
Words by Jamie Crocker
Artist Imogen Bone explores an ancient pilgrimage route through contemporary Cornish landscapes.
Imogen Bone’s forthcoming solo exhibition, Drawn by Light: Walking St. Michael’s Way, at The Summerhouse Gallery later this month transforms the historic route into a compelling artistic journey. The Scottish-born artist, now based in Helston, has spent months walking this ancient pilgrimage between Marazion and St Ives, creating a body of work that captures the raw experience of traversing Cornwall’s spiritual landscape.
Expounding the concept behind the exhibition, Imogen says, “My work often centres around the theme of walking, as I am always keen to explore the area local to the galleries I work with. Over the years, I have documented Mount’s Bay extensively, walking its coastline in all weathers. For this show, I was interested in capturing the first glimpses of the bay and what better path to choose than the St. Michael’s Way, leading from Lelant on the north coast overland to St. Michael’s Mount in Marazion on the south coast. A walk along coast paths, through shaded woodlands and over fields, all leading you towards the sun.”
The exhibition presents both intimate sketches and larger canvases, each paired to show the artist’s immediate response alongside more developed compositions. Imogen’s approach moves beyond conventional landscape painting by documenting the actual experience of the walk – the encounters with curious cows that blocked her path, clouds of midges that refused to disperse, and the interplay of light and shadow across varied terrain. Her loose, elemental painting style incorporates details that many artists would edit out, such as the effect of water in eyelashes after swimming, creating works that feel lived rather than merely observed.
The St Michael’s Way itself links ancient trade paths and sacred sites, threading through Ludgvan and Gulval before offering panoramic views across the peninsula. Imogen has walked this route in both directions throughout the year, selecting viewpoints that reveal unexpected perspectives of familiar territory. Her paintings focus on angles that diverge from the typical postcard views of the causeway and mount.
Imogen’s method involves plein air sketching followed by studio development, but always with an emphasis on capturing the elemental conditions she encounters. She deliberately chooses days with mixed weather – sun punctuated by cloud cover – finding the shifting shadows more compelling than unchanging blue skies. This approach aligns with contemporary psychogeographic thinking, where the landscape itself dictates the walker’s path and, consequently, their emotional and creative response.
The exhibition will be accompanied by the artist’s own written accounts of her experiences along the route, providing context for the visual work. These texts, described as poetic yet grounded in reality, document moments of encounter and discovery that inform each painting. The combination of visual and written elements creates a comprehensive record of pilgrimage as a contemporary artistic practice.
Beyond the gallery walls, the exhibition serves a broader purpose. Imogen intends to raise awareness of the St Michael’s Way and generate support for its maintenance. The gallery plans to donate proceeds to the small charity responsible for pathway upkeep, highlighting the ongoing need for funding to preserve these historic routes for future generations.
The Summerhouse Gallery has chosen to complement Imogen’s paintings with ceramic works featuring birds, reflecting the rich avian life encountered along the coastal sections of the walk. This thoughtful curation underscores the exhibition’s commitment to presenting Cornwall as it exists, complete with agricultural obstacles, seasonal wildlife and the kind of authentic moments that make genuine exploration worthwhile.
For those familiar with Imogen’s previous work exploring swimming perspectives and coastal viewpoints, this exhibition represents a natural evolution. Her willingness to document the charmingly unglamorous alongside the beautiful creates paintings that speak to anyone who has experienced the reality of walking Cornwall’s ancient paths.
The exhibition runs from the 15th August to the 5th September.
