ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE
GALIA PIKE
ONE HALF OF PSAPP, A MULTI-AWARD-WINNING DUO KNOWN FOR THEIR ACCLAIMED ALBUMS AND TV SCORES, AND A SELF-PROCLAIMED COMPULSIVE MAKER, GALIA PIKE’ S BOUNDLESS CREATIVITY LANDED HER AT ASHFORD’ S WESTWELL WINES WITH HER HUSBAND ADRIAN IN 2016. SINCE THEN, GALIA HAS USED HER SKILLS IN INTRICATE ILLUSTRATION TO CREATE THE VINEYARD’ S WINE LABELS ALONGSIDE STRIKING LARGE-SCALE OIL PAINTINGS INSPIRED BY THE VINEYARD’ S SPIRIT, SOIL, ROOTS AND MICROSCOPIC GEOLOGY.
Galia, please tell us about your artist journey.
I’ ve always had a compulsion to make things and have been lucky enough to dip a toe into lots of different creative puddles over the years. I started writing songs, drawing and making as a child, and it never really stopped. After a short spell at Chelsea Art College in the 90s, I started working at a film camera hire studio in East London, where I was introduced to my long-time band partner, Carim. From there, we started writing and eventually released five albums. After meeting and having children with Adrian( my husband and Westwell’ s MD and winemaker), we decided to ditch our respective jobs in music and head for the hills. We moved to Sussex and, after a series of brilliant coincidences, we ended up at Westwell where we’ ve been happily experimenting since 2017.
Your illustrations have featured on everything from album covers to murals and branding – including for Kentish luxury skincare company, Pelegrims. What draws you to a project?
Usually, it starts with necessity and evolves from there. In the past, needing an album cover or wine label and embracing the DIY ethic of doing it ourselves is really how most of my projects begin. Skincare brand Pelegrims approached designer Gill Patchett and me as they were using sap and grape pressings from Westwell as the active ingredients in their range. It felt serendipitous for us to be involved in the branding and we’ ve loved working together.
Do you have a piece of work or a project that you’ re particularly proud of? Why?
I have a real fondness for my first ever wine label illustration for Westwell. Typically literal, it’ s a very detailed drawing of the soil in the vineyard( pictured). I think it took about 12 hours to do and it was the starting point for our branding. Earth is where it all starts with wine and the components that make up our soil are integral to the success of the site, so it seemed like a good thing to celebrate. Our tagline is still‘ sun dirt yeast’- the three ingredients for good wine!
You’ re also involved in community arts projects across the South East. How can Kentish residents get involved?
If you’ re interested in getting involved, you may need to pop over the border to Sussex. I’ ve created a QR code-led audio trail with lots of interesting local stories in my hometown of Lewes and further across the district.
How does Kent, specifically life at Westwell Vineyard, influence your work?
My work is extremely literal, so life at Westwell affects what I create in a very direct way. All our labels are based on elements like vine wood under microscope, details from the winemaking process( like illustrations of the backs of our tanks, bubbling ferments, or even the winery floor), plus seawater and chalk under a microscope- chalk is a key component of the site.
What’ s next?
If this year’ s growth in the vineyard is anything to go by, then more wines and more labels! We are incredibly proud of the community we’ ve created at Westwell and want to continue welcoming people, so we’ re also planning more events including creative workshops, outdoor theatre and lots more. In terms of art, I’ m trying( very slowly!) to learn how to properly paint in oils. It’ s really difficult and a bit of a magical wild ride.
westwellwines. com monstrouspencil westwellwines
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