Ian Grosz talks with artist and writer Christina Riley about her creative practice, the importance of books and the formation of The Nature Library.

Christina reads an extract from her series of prose fragments, ‘The Same Sunlight’, published by Gutter Magazine, Issue 30. She discusses her residency at the Mission Blue Argyll ‘Hope Spot’, and the remarkable biodiversity that can be found along the Argyll coast. Christina also gives a fascinating insight into her writing, her artistic practice, and the books that have inspired her. She talks about the formation and aims of The Nature Library, which she founded in 2019, and about the lasting importance of physical books and focussed reading. She closes with an outline of her current projects and future plans, with a reading of her beautiful fragment ‘Brittle Star.’

Christina is currently working on a series of essays exploring Scotland’s biodiversity, stemming from her time on the artist residency in Argyll.

The Argyll Hope Spot was established in June 2019 in collaboration with four Argyll community groups and the conservation organisation Mission Blue. Its aims are to celebrate and help protect Argyll’s unique marine biodiversity, and is the first such Hope Spot in both Scotland and mainland UK.

You can learn more about Christina’s work at christinariley.co.uk

This episode was recorded in February 2025.