Driver Walks The Chalk, 2015. A three day walk from the highest point in Hampshire, Pilot Hill on the chalk downs, descending to cross the chalk streams of the Test and Dever to the Itchen at Winchester, concluding with an exhibition and live chalk drawing at Winchester Gallery.
Environmental Responsibility Statement 2023-24
As an individual artist and Active Member of the Gallery Climate Coalition, I have made a commitment to take public respo24sibility for the environmental impact of my art practice. I acknowledge the seriousness of the environmental crisis and encourage stakeholders and supporters to hold me accountable.
I don’t claim to be doing things perfectly and I don’t have all the answers. But along with many other artists and galleries we’re all doing our best to assess, report and reduce our impact, set targets in line with science, taking any actions we can, and working out other solutions as we go. We are all doing our best to be honest, work together and with others, and learn as we progress.
I have a long way to go but with the advice and support of the Gallery Climate Coalition I am taking active steps to improve my environmental impact.
Actions I have taken so far include:
a) switched the energy provider for my studio to Ovo and (w.e.f 07/03/2024) upgraded to their Greener Energy tariff providing “100% renewable electricity.”
b) undertaking an environmental impact evaluation of a group show I organised for Boiling Point Artist Collective at Open Hand Open Space in Reading in April 2023 – attempting to calculate (and thereby raise awareness of) the exhibition’s carbon footprint.
c) committed to refuse, reuse, reduce, repurpose and recycle within my practice when deciding on materials, processes, storage and carriage. eg switched from bubble-wrap to compostable/recyclable paper wrap for all new artwork storage and carriage. (Although I will keep using and re-using the bubble wrap already in use, rather than sending it to landfill!)
d) Using public transport wherever possible in my practice. Using an electric car, charged from my home solar panels when public transport is not practicable and using a low-emission 1.3L petrol engine van for transporting large/heavy goods.
e) Committed to minimise flying – I haven’t travelled anywhere by air since 2009, personally or professionally.
f) published this Environmental Responsibility Statement on my website.
g) participated in farmland bird surveys on my landlord’s farms to monitor the impact of wildlife-friendly farming practices on red-listed species and the wider biodiversity crisis.
Peter Driver
7 March 2024