Project Overview
Wild Wings of Hope is an interdisciplinary project conceived and creatively directed by Welsh environmental artist Ed Harrison.
Through papercraft and storytelling, the project explores our relationship with the natural world and the threads that connect people, species and places.
Inspired by the annual migrations of barn swallows and swifts between Africa and the UK, Wild Wings of Hope celebrates the shared stories, wildlife and cultural traditions that transcend borders.
While rooted in Ed’s environmental art practice, the project is inherently collaborative. Working alongside storytellers, musicians, educators, healthcare professionals and conservation organisations, Wild Wings of Hope creates opportunities for people to gather, make and reconnect—with nature and with one another.
Through workshops, exhibitions and creative wellbeing projects, the project explores themes of migration, belonging, resilience and hope.
Creating Connections Through
Facilitating the creation of tactile paper birds & insects — nurturing creativity, curiosity & connection through sustainable craft.
Memorable performances that bring migration & ecology to life, integrating folklore, music & papercuts as props.
Exploring the wonders of birds, insects & ecosystems through experiences that inspire learning & care for the natural world.
Writing
Creating opportunities for participants to express themselves through stories, poetry and messages that foster reflection, connection and hope.
Project backstory
Wild Wings of Hope was conceived after the passing of artist Ed Harrison’s father, transforming personal grief into a creative exploration of interconnectedness and hope.
Growing up in South Wales, Ed’s dad nurtured his love of nature—particularly the barn swallows (gwennol in Welsh) that returned each spring to nest in the roof of the family shed.
On the anniversary of his father’s passing, the family scattered his ashes in the garden. That same day, the swallows returned from their migration across Africa, becoming a powerful symbol of continuity and renewed connection to someone who had always found such joy in their return.
I immersed myself in the studio, drawing and cutting paper swallows. It became a way of navigating grief.
Inspired by the return of the swallows following the loss of his father, Ed retreated to the studio and began a series of illustrations as a personal tribute.
Over time, these drawings evolved into tactile papercuts, and eventually into creative workshops where participants could craft swallows and swifts of their own.
But something was missing: the rich folklore and storytelling that has surrounded these migratory birds for centuries.
Ed began collaborating with storytellers rooted in Celtic and African traditions, bringing together craft, nature and oral storytelling in a project that echoes the ancient pathways swallows trace between Africa and the UK each year.
Working With
Nature-inspired workshops bringing comfort, connection and creativity to sensitive settings.
Ecological workshops sparking curiosity and care for the natural world.
Connecting community groups & cultural organisations with stories of nature, folklore & biodiversity.
Team-building workshops & sustainable activities that help mission-driven organisations integrate hopeful storytelling into their culture.
The Storytellers
Master folklorist Chief Gift Amu and Scottish bard Cara Silvermith joined Ed, helping to shape the project into a cross-cultural collaboration that celebrates the diversity of life and the winged creatures that know no borders.
From these connections, Wild Wings of Hope took flight.
Together, they join their voices in vibrant storytelling, weaving folklore, ecology, and drumming to spark wonder, joy, and a deeper connection with the culture and biodiversity of Scotland and Africa.
The stories we weave will be filled with a sense of hope and connection that is so vital in the world right now.
Together, they join their voices in vibrant storytelling, weaving folklore, ecology, and drumming to spark wonder, joy, and a deeper connection with the culture and biodiversity of Scotland and Africa.
Our values
Bringing together diverse creative disciplines to weave craft, story & sound into unique & meaningful experiences.
craft
We integrate mindful making into our craft, beginning with sustainable materials as part of our commitment to the planet.
Inspired by nature (which knows no borders) we bring together diverse voices, cultures, traditions & perspectives.
We push the boundaries of interactive, nature-based storytelling by combining different creative practices, ancient & new.
