I am a practicing environmental artist and soil hydrologist. I combine scientific disciplines of soils, ecology and hydrology with art-based research. I have a PhD based on redistribution of rainfall in relationship to soil dynamics and plant processes and more recently I have a second PhD in creative practice researching the influence of art on water management and policy. 聽I presently engage with scientific research relating to human relationship with environment, such as disaster risk reduction and climate change. I use creative practices with the intention of expressing different ways of thinking to understand patterns, relationships, and processes within nature, focusing on the relationship of water and human activities. I combine aerial photography, clay sculpture, embroidery, and audio techniques to generate connections between people and environment, in ways that are intuitive, phenomenological and experiential.
Nicole Archer’s Biography
- 2015 to present: Practicing Artist, based in Jedburgh, Roxburgh ()
- 2013 to present: Soil Hydrologist, British Geological Survey, Edinburgh
- 2018 to 2024: Practice based PhD (Scholarship) 鈥 Art-based research and water policy, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
- 2010 to 2013: Hydrologist and flood management, Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science (under the auspices of UNESCO), University of Dundee, Fife
- 2007 to 2010: Founder and Director of ECOWAVES, Natural water solutions, Reinosa, Spain
- 2006 to 2007: Resident Facilitator for short courses in environmental sustainability and holistic science, Schumacher College, University of Plymouth
- 2004 to 2006: Coordinator and SOIL Science Research, Inner Mongolia, China and Giessen University, Germany.
- 2001 to 2004: Post doctorate in remote sensing and water use, University of Dundee, Fife
- 1996 to 2000: PhD Above-ground/below ground soil water relationships, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire
- 1994 to 1996: MSc Natural Resource Management, University of Cranfield, Bedfordshire
- 1991 to 1994: BSc Environmental Science, University of Aberystwyth
Research interests
- Climate change, soils, ecology and art-based research, resilience and sustainability
Current projects and collaboration
- Art-based research and water policy – Developing art-based methods relevant to water policy
- + and Uplift – Carbon sequestration and farming practices in the fens 鈥 using art-based research to follow transformation of soils, farmers and science
- Carbon storage – Art-based methods and understanding carbon storage
- Collaborating with Midlothian – National Mining Museum Scotland – A Scotland-wide collaborative project engaging with climate change following COP26
- Collaborating with Ateneo de Manilla University and Vietnam National University funded by the Royal Society –
- ASSIST – Integrating surface and sub-surface processes in relation to farm productivity
- Emergent forest dynamics of ancient Scots pine and mature plantations – Investigating natural flood management in scots pine plantations and ancient scots pines
Books
Manley, N A L. 2024. . Creative Practice PhD Thesis. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK.
Manley, N A L, Tankiamco, X, Galindo, A C R, Schrag, A, Nguyen, T A, Dao, T H, Duong, T T, Guzman, M A L G, and Payo Garcia, A P. 2022. . British Geological Survey, UK Research and Innovation.
Key papers
Manley, N A L . 2022. . Art/Research International: A Transdisciplinary Journal, 7 (1), 123鈥155.
Archer, N A L, Bell, R A, Butcher, A S, and Bricker, S H. 2020. . Journal of Flood Risk Management; e12629.
Vereecken, H, Weiherm眉ller, L, Assouline, S, 艩im暖nek, J, Verhoft, A, Herbst, M, Archer, N A L, et al. 2019. , Vadose Zone Journal. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 18(1), p. 180191.
脫 Dochartaigh, B 脡, Archer, N A L, Peskett, L, MacDonald, A聽 M, Black, A R, Auton, C A, Merritt, J E, Gooddy, D C, and Bonell, M. 2019. . Hydrogeology Journal, 27:703鈥716.
Archer, N A L, Otten, W, Schmidt, S, Shah, N, and Bonell, M. 2015. . Ecohydrology.
Archer, N A L, Bonell, M, MacDonald, A M, and Coles, N. 2014. . Hydrology Research.
Archer, N A L, Bonell, M, MacDonald, A M, Coles, N, Auton, C A, and Stevenson, R. 2013. . Journal of Hydrology 497, 208鈥222.
Archer, N A L, Quinton, J N, and Hess, T M. 2012. . Ecohydrology, 5, 108鈥120.
Archer, N A L, and Jones, H G. 2006. . International Journal of Remote Sensing, 27 (11), 2141鈥2159.
Archer, N A L, and Jones, H G. 2003. Estimation of evaporation using ground and airborne methods. In: Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society, Scales and Dynamics in observing the environment. 10-12 September 2003, University of Nottingham, UK. Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society. ISBN 0 946226 32 6.
Archer, N A L, Hess, T M, and Quinton, J N. 2002. The water balance of two semi-arid shrubs on abandoned land in south-eastern Spain after cold season rain.聽 Hydrology and Earth Systems Sciences. 6 (5), 913鈥926.
Archer, N A L, Quinton, J N, and Hess, T M. 2002. Below-ground relationships of soil texture, roots and hydraulic conductivity in two-phase mosaic vegetation in south-east Spain. Journal of Arid Environments. 52: 535鈥553.
Jones, H G, Archer, N A L, Rotenberg, E, and Casa, R. 2003. Radiation measurements for plant ecophysiology. Journal of Experimental Botany. 54, (386), 879鈥889.
Jones, H G, Archer, N A L, and Rotenberg, E. 2003. Thermal radiation, canopy temperature and evaporation from forest canopies. In: Forest at the land atmosphere interface. Edts. Mencuccini, M, Grace, J, Mencrieff, J, and MacNaughton, K. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
Quinton, J N, Morgan, R P C, Archer, N A L, Hall, G M, and Green, A. 2002. Bioengineering principles and desertification mitigation. In: Mediterranean Desertification: a mosaic of processes and responses. Edts. Geeson, N A, Brandt, C J, and Thornes, J B. John Wiley and Sons Ltd. UK.
Solo exhibitions
- 15 to 18 February 2023: Living with Water: an exhibition – Aret茅 Innovation and Creativity Hub, Manila, Philippines
- Nov 2021 to May 2022: Carbon Conflict & Climate Change (shared with British Geological Survey) – National Mining Museum Scotland, Midlothian, UK
- 29 to 31 January 2020: Becoming River – Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow, UK
- 19 to 21 June 2019: Evolving the Forest – Space Gallery, Dartington Hall, Dartington, UK
- 9 to 11 Nov 2018: Hanoi Forum 2018, towards sustainable development – Marriott Hotel, Vietnam
- 21 to 25 May 2018: The Red River: The Cascading Hazards Workshop – Vietnam National University, Vietnam
- 6 to 7 Feb 2018:Flood Risk Management Conference 2018 – Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow, UK
- 2 to 7 Sept 2017: Graduate Show – Glasgow School of Art, UK
- 18 and 25 May 2017: Water Ways (solo) – British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK
- 16 May 2017: Water Ways (solo) – Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, UK
- Art-based research
- Interdisciplinary research
- Hydrology, soils and ecology
- Skilled in digital design
- Environmental arts 鈥 tapestry, audio, film, ceramics, and alternative photographic process
- Fluent in Spanish and French
Associations
- Member of Society of Scottish Artists
- Member of Visual Artists Association