'On Crookbarrow Hill' with Jonathan Dukes

Crookbarrow Hill, or Whittington Tump as it is often fondly referred to, is instantly recognisable to anyone driving near junction 7 of the M5, the exit for Worcester. For generations this distinctive hill, with a solitary tree on top, has become a symbol of homecoming, an emotional way-marker.

Jonathan Dukes lives in Worcester with his family. From the earliest age, he has been told, he drew, even before speech. None of these drawings still exist because they were rubbish - but he has made up for those by doodling in every lesson, lecture and meeting he’s been in.

The work found in this book represents almost everything produced from September 2022 to May 2024. It follows an exploration of the minute landscapes found within the area of the Foxwell St Allotments up to Whittington Tump or Crookbarrow Hill, a landscape landmark that sits next to Junction 7 on the M5 that can be seen from the allotments - both areas have been reshaped by humans. The allotments repeatedly every season by the owner, while Crookbarrow has been shaped by past civilisations for their own ultimately unknown reasons. The landscape is a palimpsest for the occupants of these ilses, and it seems the rewriting is by no means near its end.