Esther Waite

From grassland to peatland

Photograph of a winter solstice sunrise taken from the middle of Midgley moor. The sun is a bright ball, low above the horizon in a striking orange sky. Farm buildings, masts and three wind turbines are silhouetted in the distance. The foreground is carpeted with moorland heathers and grasses.

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Esther Waite

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June 2025. I drag myself out of bed, hurry up the hill and reach the top of Midgley moor just in time to enjoy a vibrant orange solstice dawn. It’s stunningly peaceful.

This open expanse of moorland feels as much like home as my own four walls in the valley below. I’ve paused in this spot many times, drinking in the panoramic views and seeing if I can trace the routes I’ve taken through distant paths and landmarks.

Not too many years ago I’d have been daunted by the thought of venturing up here. Little by little I’ve made friends with the terrain and transformed from occasional walker into fully-fledged outdoorsy type. I very much doubt I’d have discovered my inner trail runner without the influence of this bleak, rich, rugged, beautiful place.

Living in the South Pennines has also provided much inspiration for my creative work, which in turn has opened up opportunities to deepen my understanding of the landscape I spend so much time exploring on foot.

In 2024/25 I took part in Ancient Underlands, a project highlighting the ancient Calderdale grassland habitat that’s home to some extraordinary fungi species. It was a joy to learn about this hidden world and gain a more informed vantage point on a place I love.

The project prompted lots of ideas for work in different mediums, but I lacked the time to pursue this pull towards different disciplines. Instead, I settled for experimenting with new techniques and materials that I incorporated in some small, abstract collage pieces.

A small, abstract collage artwork displayed on a wooden mini easel with the grain of a wooden table behind. The collage features organic shapes and textures in a colour palette of greens and greys.
A small, abstract collage artwork displayed on a wooden mini easel with the grain of a wooden table behind. The collage features organic shapes and textures in a colour palette of purples and greens.
A small, abstract collage artwork displayed on a wooden mini easel with the grain of a wooden table behind. The collage features organic and geometric shapes and textures in a colour palette of reds and greens.
A small, abstract collage artwork displayed on a wooden mini easel with the grain of a wooden table behind. The collage features organic shapes and textures in a colour palette of reds and greens.
A small, abstract collage artwork displayed on a wooden mini easel with the grain of a wooden table behind. The collage features organic shapes and textures in a colour palette of browns and greens.

Through this project I was introduced to the Peat Appreciation Society (PAS), an arts collective working to increase awareness and appreciation of peatlands. By the time I was watching the summer solstice sunrise, being part of PAS had prompted me to think seriously about exploring new creative possibilities. But if not collage, then what?

All of this flowed into a period of reflection around the trajectory of my creative work that eventually spawned The Art of Being Curious. I’m developing my new work for PAS by beginning with ‘not collage’ and letting my curiosity lead the way.

Photograph of the sun rising above Midgley Moor. The foreground features moorland grasses and a grassy track leading straight ahead. Cloud is gathered in the distant valley below. The sky is pale blue and slightly hazy.
Early morning on the Calderdale Way, Midgley Moor

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