Song of the Oyster Reef
‘Song of the Oyster Reef’ was a collaborative commission between myself and the writer Stevie Ronnie where we responded creatively to scientific research exploring nature-based solutions to coastal erosion along the coastline of North Eastern England. Our response focussed on one of those potential solutions: efforts to re-introduce native oysters to the region’s coast.
I documented the journey of 10,000 native oysters as they were harvested in Stranraer before being transported to Sunderland. Upon arrival, the oysters were meticulously cleaned and transported by boat to a secret location where they were cast into to sea in the hope that they would settle there and establish a new oyster reef.
The final work we produced was presented in two forms: an installation comprising of a 25m long windbreak that was presented on Sandhaven Beach in South Shields; and the pamphlet ‘Song of the Oyster Reef’.
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Since then I have continued to collaborate with them as they cleaned, prepared and attached 4000 native oysters to 20 1.5m oyster reef cubes which were deployed off Whitburn in September 2025.
Each block is made from Marine Crete (a robust, seawater-resistant and carbon neutral alternative to concrete) and is engraved with ridges and textures that mimic natural marine surfaces providing habitat and shelter for marine species. They act as an anchor to secure native oysters to the seabed and shield them from storms and tidal surges.
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‘Song of the Oyster Reef’ was commissioned by Kinetika through public funding from Arts Council England & Historic England for The Beach of Dreams, a UK-wide coastal festival connecting with the beauty, stories and challenges of our coastlines, May 2025.
Supported by Stronger Shores, a DEFRA-funded Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme initiative exploring natural solutions to flooding, coastal erosion and climate change along the North-East Coast.
The artists are grateful for the support, kindness and generosity of The Wild Oysters Project, Tyne and Wear, without which this work would not have been possible.