Teresa Grimaldi and Sarah Vardy

We were so pleased to welcome Ventnor-based artists Teresa Grimaldi and Sarah Vardy as residents. Sarah and Teresa used their residency as research and development time. They embarked upon an in-depth study of the life of notorious Olivia Parkes, (1880-1962), who lived in a stilted wooden boat hut on the beach at Ventnor for nearly 40 years.

Parkes' life raises many questions about women living during this time and the choices they were able to make. She chose to live off grid without any amenities despite intervention from the authorities. Presently, the story of her life, however fascinating, is largely based upon myth. Their goal was to uncover facts through their research to create a clear picture of her life.

Sarah Vardy studied Art History and Critical Studies at Sussex University, then completed a PGCE. After working at Hove Gallery she studied Museum and Art Gallery Education and worked at Brighton Museum as an assistant education officer. Sarah spent 16 years teaching art and traditional crafts in schools, day centres and in community settings. She later studied Fine Art at Brighton College.

Teresa Grimaldi is an installation artist. She was born on the Isle of Wight in 1966 into a family of ice cream vendors. She has a Degree in Theatre Design. She worked as a designer/educator before specialising in Puppetry at Central School of Speech and Drama followed by MA in Visual Performance at Dartington College of Arts.

During their window residency they did free live drawing sessions inspired by their research into the eccentric Ventnor character, Olivia Parkes.

Teresa said “It was a non pressured environment to try out unusual experiments , there fore it exceeded expectations.”