Ashley Baldwin-Smith
Walking Art

Walking as Methodological Research

Walking is an essential to my practice and this series of artworks is a continuation of my research into how the throw-away society impacts on the environment and the human condition.

Part of this research, is to map and plot the path of each walk and highlight what I discover through contextual study, text, video and photography. I see each plotted route as a drawing, physically drawn with my feet, plotted digitally on Google Maps, and then reinterpreted into the physical world in the form of a video.

Documenting from Cromwell Road, up Mill Road, over Midsummer Common to Chesterton.
Walking journal documenting litter from Cromwell Road, up Mill Road, over Midsummer Common to Chesterton.

Mischief

Art walking journal documenting litter from Cromwell Road, up Mill Road, over Midsummer Common to Chesterton.

Documenting the Roecliffe Ramble in Yorkshire.
Walking journal documenting the Roecliffe Ramble.

Roecliffe Ramble

I made this scenic walk during a camping trip to Boroughbridge, Yorkshire.

Documenting litter along the historic King's Parade and the stunning Cambridge Backs
Walking journal and drawing, documenting litter along the historic King's Parade and the stunning Cambridge Backs.

Litter Parade

Walking art journal documenting litter along the historic King's Parade and the stunning Cambridge Backs.

Documenting the litter of the present, viewing the development for the future and enjoying the heritage from the past
Walking journal documenting the litter of the present, viewing the development for the future and enjoying the heritage from the past.

Creating the future, conserving the past

Documenting the litter of the present, viewing the development for the future and enjoying the heritage from the past.

Documenting the litter during an artist walk from Grafton Centre, pausing at Reality Checkpoint and then continuing up Hills Road to Bateman Street
Walking journal documenting the litter from Grafton Centre, pausing at Reality Checkpoint and then continuing up Hills Road to Bateman Street.

Reality Check

Artist walk from Grafton Centre, pausing at Reality Checkpoint and then continuing up Hills Road to Bateman Street.

Documenting litter and fly-tipping along the Great Ouse near Twentypence Marina
Walking journal and drawing, documenting litter and fly-tipping Twenty Pence Road and the A10 near Chittering.

Random River Ramble

This walk journals the random the litter and fly tipping discovered along the Great Ouse between Twenty Pence Road and the A10 near Chittering.

Documenting litter and fly-tipping along a local walk from Chesterton to Coldhams Lane and Laundry Lane
Walking journal and drawing, documenting litter and fly-tipping

To Laundry Lane

Even on this short walk, from Chesterton to Laundry Lane, I discovered masses of litter and a fly-tipped sofa!

Documenting vacant shops and former restaurants on the streets of Cambridge
Walking journal and drawing, documenting vacant shops and former restaurants on the streets of Cambridge.

Pretty Vacant

For this walk, I have documented many of the vacant shops and former restaurants on the streets of Cambridge.

Documenting litter along a local walk to and from Cambridge North station
Mapping litter along a local walk to and from Cambridge North station

Tracking Litter

Art journal documenting litter along a local walk to and from Cambridge North station

Documenting discarded masks and other litter on Cambridge streets
Mapping litter on Cambridge streets

Cambridge Unmasked

Litter art journal walk from Chesterton to Hills Road via Chesterton Road, Christ's Pieces, and St Andrews Street

Documenting discarded masks and other litter along the Castle Walk
Mapping litter along the Castle Walk

Castle Walk

Litter journal following in the footsteps of Andrew Kershman who fetaured this walk in his book titled Walking Cambridge: 1,000 years of history in 8 walks

Mapping discarded masks on Cambridge streets
Mapping littered masks

Masquerade

Walk mapping and documenting discarded masks, potentially biohazards

Documenting discarded litter along the Great Ouse at Stretham Ferry Marina
litter

Nature's Lament

Documenting discarded litter along the Great Ouse at Stretham Ferry Marina

On the trail of Nitrous oxide canisters
Mapping discarded nitrous oxide canisters

Nitro Trail

On the trail of nitrous oxide canisters, also known 'laughing gas', littering my local streets

Mapping the litter along a scenic walk in Lode
Mapping littered masks

Second Take

A short walk skirting Anglesey Abbey, Lode. A lovely walk but look closer and I still found litter

Documenting discarded litter
litter

Litter Lanes

Photographic journal mapping litter along a 9 mile walk

Litter art journal
Mapping litter

Making Tracks

Photographic journal mapping litter during a short walk and an initial test of the methodologies