Torre Abbey Acquires Contemporary Work by James Murch Through New Artist Residency Programme
Torre Abbey has announced the acquisition of a major new work by Torbay-based artist James Murch, created during his time as part of the Geopark Artist Residency Programme. The purchase continues Torre Abbey’s history of collecting contemporary art to add to the existing nationally important collection.
The acquisition is one of the landmark outcomes of the Torbay Local Heritage Grant Scheme (LHGS), which supported more than 25 small groups, individuals, and organisations to develop innovative projects exploring Torbay’s heritage.
Delivered in partnership by Torre Abbey, Artizan Collective CIC, and the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, the residency scheme enabled participating artists to create ambitious new works in response to Torbay’s significant UNESCO designation, that they would not otherwise have been able to realise, embedding fresh creative narratives into the region’s cultural legacy.
A Residency with Impact
The Geopark Artist Residency Programme offered four artists the opportunity to explore and reinterpret Torbay’s unique natural and cultural landscapes. At Torre Abbey, James Murch produced his Roots and Relics series, an exploration of the tension between heritage conservation and the natural processes of growth, erosion, and reclamation.
Speaking on the acquisition, James said:
“It’s an incredible honour to have my work become part of a museum collection. As an artist, you hope your work will resonate with people, but knowing it will be preserved, shared, and given a life beyond the studio makes it truly special. To have that happen here carries an even deeper significance. Torre Abbey has been a place of learning and inspiration throughout my residency, and to see this period of creativity culminate in a lasting contribution to its collection is profoundly meaningful.”
Torre Abbey Statement
We are delighted to welcome James Murch’s Roots and Relics series into the Torre Abbey collection. This acquisition represents a meaningful step in our commitment to supporting contemporary artists and embedding local creative voices into our nationally significant holdings. James’s work offers a powerful reflection on the interplay between heritage and nature, themes that resonate deeply with our site and its history. We are proud to have played a role in enabling this work through the Geopark Artist Residency Programme and look forward to sharing it with our audiences for years to come
Significance for Torre Abbey
- The acquisition was made possible by Torbay Council through the Art Object Fund linked to Torre Abbey.
This is the first acquisition from the Geopark Artist Residency Programme and marks a pivotal moment in the Abbey’s collecting history. It introduces a contemporary, locally rooted perspective into a collection traditionally known for its historic and Pre-Raphaelite works, expanding the narrative scope of the museum.
The acquisition underscores Torre Abbey’s evolving role as both a guardian of heritage and a platform for contemporary cultural expression in Torbay. It reflects the Abbey’s dedication to fostering creative engagement with place and heritage and support of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark.
Partner Reflections
The acquisition is also being celebrated as an exemplar of partnership working. By combining enabling grants with innovative residency approaches, the programme demonstrated how limited resources can be leveraged to create long-term cultural value.
Jacob Brandon, Director of Artizan Collective CIC, commented:
“This purchase is not just the addition of a single artwork; it is the embodiment of what can happen when artists are enabled to openly explore their practice in response to place. Through the residency scheme, James and the other artists were able to develop work that speaks directly to Torbay’s layered histories and living heritage. To see that work now preserved within Torre Abbey’s collection is a legacy we are proud to share in.”
The English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark added:
“Situated within the stunning, rolling hills of South Devon, Torbay’s geology has created the beautiful coastline of today, which fundamentally links the rich diversity of landscape with wildlife, people and culture.”
A Wider Programme of Success
The Geopark Artist Residencies formed part of a wider suite of Local Heritage Grant Scheme projects, which together created powerful new narratives around Torbay’s heritage. From experimental exhibitions to community-led initiatives, the scheme has broadened how local history is told, ensuring that Torbay’s diverse stories reach audiences locally and beyond.
The acquisition of James Murch’s work cements the residency programme’s legacy, not only in the memory of its exhibitions but within the walls of Torre Abbey itself.