Lyme Regis Museum is delighted to announce the launch of ‘To the Sea’, a new artist research residency programme bringing together three talented artists to explore the town’s rich maritime heritage in a creative residency, series of workshops and open days culminating in a new exhibition running from February 2027. The programme has been made possible by funding from Art Council England.
The programme sees writer and performer Sarah Acton, ceramicist and illustrator Ilse Black and printmaker Emma Molony working alongside the Museum’s Maritime Gallery collection, researching and creating new work inspired by Lyme Regis’ deep and storied relationship with the sea. Between 1st September and 30th November 2026, the three artists will be in residency at the Museum, working within the Museum space on their individual research projects to create new work. Through their residencies, the artists will engage with the Museum’s objects, archives and audiences, offering fresh perspectives on the town’s coastal history and helping open conversations with the public and shape how the Museum tells its maritime story in the future.
Sarah Acton, a Dorset-based writer and performer will delve into Lyme’s sea legends, ghost stories and maritime histories – exploring the ghost boats, trade routes and heroic characters that have layered their stories across the town’s harbour and shoreline. “What we are presented with in history, and what we are curious to investigate for ourselves, are two sides of a story,” she says. “I’ll be delving into Lyme’s sea and maritime legends to reveal mysteries, missing fragments and alternative histories, real or imagined.”
Ilse Black, an artist and illustrator with a passion for marine ecology and the natural world, will approach the Maritime Gallery collection from a unique angle – shifting the gaze from land to sea and exploring the relationship between the museum, its objects and the ocean that surrounds them. “The tideline between the museum and the sea, being the interface between people and the ocean, reveals stories and maybe even whispering predictions,” she says. Her practice will take the form of ceramic sculptural forms and vessels, responding to the objects and stories she encounters during her residency.
Emma Molony, a printmaker based in East Devon whose work has been exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the Royal West of England Academy and beyond, will explore Lyme’s global maritime connections through the lens of maps, storytelling and print. Working closely with the Museum’s archives and visitors, Emma aims to allow the collection to inspire new ideas and unexpected stories – transformed through her distinctive printmaking practice.
Throughout the programme, visitors to the Museum will have the opportunity to engage directly with the artists and their work. A residency desk in the Maritime Gallery will invite members of the public to respond to prompts and leave their own thoughts and reflections, while a series of public workshops and open days will offer hands-on creative experiences led by each of the three artists.
Creative Residency, Workshops and Open Days
The artists will be installed in rotation at a Residency Desk in the Museum between September and November 2026. The programme includes six full-day Saturday workshops running between September 2026 and March 2027. Three artist insight open days will also take place on 4th November, 3rd February 2027 and 3rd March 2027.
The programme will culminate in a shared ‘To the Sea’ exhibition opening in early February 2027, showcasing the new works created during the residency alongside conversations reflecting on the impact of the programme and the Museum’s role in telling the story of Lyme Regis and the sea.
Bridget Houseago, Director of Lyme Regis Museum, said: “To the Sea is a really exciting opportunity for us to work with three contemporary artists and explore new ways of connecting our audiences with the remarkable maritime heritage of this town. We hope it will not only produce wonderful new artwork but also help us think afresh about how we connect and make links with our collections and tell the story of Lyme Regis and its relationship with the coast for generations to come. We warmly invite everyone to come along, get involved and be part of this creative journey.”
To the Sea begins in September 2026. All workshops are open to members of the public – information about the residency programme and booking information is available at www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/whats-on/tothesea. The Maritime Gallery and residency desk are free to visit with museum admission.