Exploring the Summer Lands of Great Britain from the Film Archives of Shelley Turner

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The Summer Lands of Great Britain is an old name for the counties that make up the South West of England, where the impression is that it really is so beautiful that it appears to be summer all year round. But I think the truth is to be found in the realisation that this is the place where myth and reality often collide.

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The Summer Lands were part of Old Albion, a mythical name for England that embodied all that was otherworldly; a place of magic, enchantment and of sorcery. Mythical and Biblical figures roamed here, living out their lives from the time of Adam and Eve. William Blake the English artist, prophet, writer, engraver and poet plunged deep into this mythos, retelling the History of Albion in his own unique way, bringing these lands vividly alive, entwining his visions with figures from the gospels, keeping the inherent spirituality of the British Isles foremost in his mind. In the Age of Enlightenment, William Blake was a true visionary.

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Before William Blake there was Geoffrey of Monmouth, a Christian cleric from Monmouth, Wales; born between 1092 and 1100, who wrote the influential chronicle 'The History of the Kings of Britain' [Historia Regum Britanniae] which was very popular at the time, but now considered historically unreliable. However, what it does include is one of the earliest constructed narratives of King Arthur. Among other writings Geoffrey also wrote the Prophecies of Merlin [Prophetiae Merlini] and also the Life of Merlin [Vita Merlini] and it is these works that are still contributing to the popularity of the Legend of Arthur, his Knights and the Enchanter Merlin today.

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The interweaving of the facts that Geoffrey could establish and the myths that he wanted to include make me think that Geoffrey came under the spell of Old Albion himself. But as we move forwards to the present we find that there are still ongoing theories as to whether Arthur really existed, and archaeological excavations have been carried out in all seriousness to try and establish the truth. It would seem that for a golden time in history a commander with Roman training in warfare lifted the native tribes of Britain in the Dark Ages to ward off the threat of Saxon invasion with a charisma that has resonated down through history until the present day.

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Whatever the truth of it, the Tales of Arthur and his Knights and of Merlin and what is collectively known as 'The Matter of Britain', caught me in its spell from a very young age and it has stayed with me ever since.

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The following works are inspired by my photographic film archive, specifically in this case from the many film images taken during the 1980's and the 1990's and just into the millennium. They were taken in the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall in the South West of England, using my Fuji Film camera with film rolls. Many locations were visited because of my fascination with the legends of Arthur and his Knights. Merlin the Enchanter was soon added to this list as I always felt he had something to say of importance, and which still has meaning for the progression of humanity and how it governs itself today.

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Modern digital methods have meant that I can now share these film images from my Archive but in such a way that I hope they shine in the present and show how beautiful Old Albion truly is; a land of myth and enchantment, but also a place of deep spiritual enlightenment, for those who know where to look with the right guide.

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I felt the need to return to the Summer Lands of Great Britain, to not only bring back my experiences from there and what formed me as a person I am today, but to also share a collective memory of this great country of England and its people. The emotive atmosphere of The Summer Lands can remind you of what it is to fill your heart with a steadfast truth and belief, and then to walk the path of faith and loyalty with a courage and compassion that becomes an innate part of you.

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Returning to Camelot means discovering your true self once again.

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