Exciting opportunity for a self-led, group artist residency in Dartmoor National Park, Widecombe in the Moor in Devon! Details below…

Where: Southcombe Barn @southcombebarn

This self-led, interdisciplinary residency will take place in the natural dye studio/residence of long-term Southcombe Barn regenerative natural colour artist in residence Babs Behan of Botanical Inks @Botanicalinks. This is a residency for women and non-binary artists and researchers working with sustainable and plant-based creative practices.

Southcombe Barn is an artist retreat, residency, and test space comprising 16 acres of land. There is an apothecary garden, natural swimming pool and wood-fired sauna on site. The land backs onto Dartmoor National Park, which is a haven for wildlife, with a range of ecosystems including wildflower meadows, temperate rainforest woodland, ponds and streams.

Babs Behan is a natural dye artist, author and founder of Botanical Inks and Bristol Cloth, whose pioneering projects are rooted in regenerative textile traditions, soil-to-soil sustainability and the poetic power of plant colour, working with leading cultural and commercial clients while Bristol Cloth models a re-localised circular UK production system grounded in heritage craft and regenerative farming.

When: March 23-30th 2026

How much: £350 (Part funded, Full value £850) for 7 nights at Southcombe Barn including pre and mid-residency group Zoom call with Babs Behan and a signed copy of Botanical Dyes book for each artist as part of the residency.

What: The residency is largely self-led, with peer connection encouraged, rather than facilitator-led group holding. Babs Behan will not be onsite during this stay, but available via a scheduled mid-week remote group video call. An arrival pack will be provided with a loose, open brief focused on working with colour and material drawn from the land at Southcombe Barn, alongside practical studio guidance and access notes. You will have access to raw materials at Southcombe Barn and will be free to explore the magical world of botanical practices in this very special environment . You will have access to the dye, ink, paint and printmaking equipment of the Botanical Inks studio. There is space for 3 artists, living communally and sharing two studio spaces. This is a self-catering residency with access to kitchen equipment only.

To hear more about this opportunity and to express your intentions for collaboration, please send the following to Vashti at info@southcombebarn.com by Feb 18th midnight. If you are applying as a group please let us know on your application.

-Upto 250 words that explains how your work fits the theme of sustainable, plant based creative practices

-Some examples of your work

-Links to website or Instagram accounts