Piles Copse
Click through the gallery below to discover Kevin Tole’s response to the pedunculate (English) oak woodland in the Erme Valley
Piles Copse is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a rich assemblage of high-level oak wood, lichens and epiphytes. It is likely that the trees did not arrive naturally but were planted at some stage. There was a general shortage of small oak (coppice and underwood) in south-west England by about the 16th century, mainly as a result of its heavy use to make charcoal for tin smelting.
Higher Piles, Dartmoor Oak (Quercus Robur)
Charcoal and chalk on paper, 107 x 109 cm
Drawing has always been fundamental to Kevin Tole. In recent years his focus has shifted to large charcoal drawings. This began with a year-long study of three trees on the edge of Dartmoor, during which he produced an A1-sized charcoal drawing every week. He continues to represent the environment using charcoal, often incorporating material found in and around the location or charcoal made from the subject trees.
Drawing has always been fundamental to Kevin Tole. In recent years his focus has shifted to large charcoal drawings. This began with a year-long study of three trees on the edge of Dartmoor, during which he produced an A1-sized charcoal drawing every week.
Tole continues to represent the environment using charcoal, often incorporating material found in and around the location or charcoal made from the subject trees.
Gallery
This exhibition was supported by
