Large Blue mug

Commissioned by Sophie as a surprise birthday present for her partner Simon, this mug is in part modelled on Simon’s favourite, but now broken mug. Sophie and Simon (under the collaborative working name Close and Remote) have recently worked with Bristol University to produce a film about the Large Blue butterfly’s UK extinction in 1979 and the subsequent decades long re-introduction, largely undertaken by amateur butterfly enthusiasts. The film talks about cultural regeneration more broadly and about custodianship, storing & sharing knowledge and resilient positivity. You can watch it here. Simon is also currently painting all 57 species of british butterfly: here.