Bath Spa University’s Michael Pennie Gallery on the Locksbrook Campus is about to host Recovery, a first solo exhibition by artist Fiona Haines, which will run from 7th to the 30th of November.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiona returned to her former career in Public Health. To decompress after long days of remote work and faceless online meetings, she found solace in daily walks through the countryside near her home.
Along the way, she encountered a small recovery truck parked in the lanes — an unlikely landmark that became both a subject and a symbol. Over two years, photographing the truck became a ritual, a way to process stress and reconnect with creativity.
Recovery invites visitors to reflect on the shared human need for hope, grounding, and resilience during times of uncertainty.
At the heart of the exhibition is Chevron, a series of neon-toned works inspired by the familiar road sign. Traditionally a marker of sharp turns or narrowing roads, Haines reimagines the chevron as a metaphor for disruption, exclusion, and sudden change. Rendered in candy-bright “sweetie” colours, the works hold a tension between playful surface and darker realities — workplace dynamics, governmental mishandling, and the psychological toll of the pandemic. They stand as warning signs, but also as emblems of survival.
Poetry, which first entered Fiona’s practice during lockdown, also threads through the exhibition. Writing became a vital tool for processing isolation and reconnecting with place, adding an intimate, reflective voice to her visual work.
The exhibition features a range of works across media: photography, sculpture, sound, and installation. Highlights include a photographic timeline chronicling the Recovery Truck, a sculptural EEG, and immersive pieces such as a sand garden with an accompanying ‘body scan’ audio work, inviting visitors to pause, play, and ground themselves.
Together, these works create a space for contemplation, humour, and collective reflection on what it means to recover, as individuals and as a community.
Exhibition details:
· Recovery by Fiona Haines
· Dates: 7–30 November 2025
· Launch: Thursday 6 November, 5- 8 pm
· Venue: Michael Pennie Gallery, Bath Spa University’s Locksbrook Campus.
Website: www.fionahaines.com
Fiona told me for the launch night: “There will be a bar, live music, and at 7pm, an actor will recite my poem ‘Teams’……. Please note: parking on site is limited, but there is parking available at Lidl (60–90 minutes max), followed by a short walk over the bridge to the venue.”
