Hillary Waters Fayle's USCB Residency Connects Art and Environment
USCB welcomed Spring 2026 Artist in Residence Hillary Waters Fayle for an exhibition of her work, public workshops, and nature art study trips to Pritchards Island. Her residency was sponsored by the university's Pritchards Island research initiative, Sea Islands Center Gallery, and Studio Art program.
Fayle’s exhibition, Echo, was on display throughout February at the Sea Islands Center Gallery, offering visitors a close look at her nature-inspired work. Specializing in fiber and textile design, Fayle incorporates organic materials and intricate handwork to explore the relationship between nature and human intervention.
During her residency, Fayle made four trips to Pritchards Island, where she collected natural materials that will inform a new artwork she is creating for USCB. On one of those visits, she accompanied Studio Art faculty members Joanna Angell and Emma Barnes and their students in 3D Design and 2D Design courses, respectively, providing a unique opportunity for students to engage with both the landscape and a working artist in an immersive learning environment. The finished piece, along with a cyanotype print derived from her findings, will be donated to the university.
Fayle described Pritchards Island as both inspiring and fragile, noting its dense, lush landscape and limited plant diversity. “It’s all sort of bound to be gone sooner rather than later,” she said, reflecting on the unusual experience of encountering a place she may outlive. During multiple visits, she collected botanical materials—along with shells, feathers, and driftwood—to capture the island’s ecosystem in detail. Back in the studio, these elements are carefully pressed, arranged, and assembled into intricate compositions before being transformed into cyanotype prints. “That intricacy feels important,” Fayle explained, emphasizing her intention to reflect the delicate relationships within the environment.
As part of her residency, Fayle led two hands-on workshops for the public and USCB students in the USCB Printmaking Studio. The first, Impressions in Blue: Cyanotype Printing Workshop, introduced participants to the historic cyanotype process—often recognized as the blueprint technique. Using sunlight as a primary tool (and UV light due to cloudy conditions), attendees created striking prints on paper and fabric with found objects and botanical materials. Each participant left with a custom cyanotype bandanna and a series of unique prints.
Her second workshop, The Explored Stitch, focused on embroidery as a form of personal expression. Participants experimented with foundational stitching techniques while exploring how needle and thread can reflect individual style—much like handwriting. Open to all skill levels, the workshop encouraged creativity and experimentation with materials and form.
A reception honoring Fayle was held on February 27 at the Sea Islands Center Gallery, bringing together students, faculty, and members of the community to celebrate her work. During her residency, Fayle also hosted studio hours, offering insight into her artistic process and creating space for meaningful dialogue with attendees.
Fayle currently serves as an Assistant Professor and directs the fiber program at Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to her academic work, she teaches workshops both domestically and internationally. Her work has been featured in publications including The Observer, The Guardian, The Sunday Times South Africa, Garden & Gun, Flower, Virginia Living, and Embroidery Magazine. Her pieces are held in permanent collections such as the Burchfield Penney Art Center, the United States Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the Kalmthout Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in Belgium.
Through exhibitions, workshops, and open engagement, Fayle’s residency provided a meaningful opportunity for the USCB community to experience contemporary art in a collaborative and accessible way while connecting creative practice to the natural environment.
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CW 03/23/2026