Alec Finlay was Artist in Residence at BALTIC, The Centre for Contemporary art, Gateshead when he initiated from sea to sea - renga along Hadrian's Wall

Alec lives locally in Byker and recent work includes art and poetry projects with primary schools in Seaham, a public art project with Dance City and a series of artist projects and events at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

His work involves the use and exploration of text. Part of this has been to create a series of Renga’s - poems that have a particular structure and which are created through a collective group, under the guidance of a ‘Master’ poet.

from sea to sea - renga along Hadrian's Wall, was a series of 8 renga days, 4 in 2003 and 4 in 2004 which took place along the length of Hadrian's Wall, starting at Arbeia and then moving about 10 miles along the line of the wall to a new location.

The rengas took place at: Arbeia, Walbottle, Housesteads, St Oswalds, Sandysike, Birdoswald, Kirkandrews and Bowness on Solway.

Dove White - Arbeia

Hadrian's Ghost - Walbottle

Roman Holiday - Housesteads

Cloth Wings - St Oswalds

The Walk Back - Birdoswald

Talking on the Lawn - Sandysike

The River Runs Backwards - Kirkandrews on Eden

Dog Coal - Bowness on Solway