Dartmoor Photoshoots for Creatives : Avoca - A Vocal Soundscape Artist
Recently the wonderful Lulu (Avoca) had an article published about her in The Dartmoor News and it was accompanied by some of the photographs I’d taken for her back in August 2025.
After first discussing the kind of thing Lulu was after from the photoshoot, we eventually found time to met up on what was turning out to be a rather damp morning and made our way to Scorhill Stone Circle where I think we managed to create some amazing images.
“Very much enjoyed the creative process, even in the lashing rain 😄”
Avoca (Lulu Clancy) is a Dartmoor based vocal soundscape artist whose work sits somewhere between song, ritual and physical theatre.
She treats voice, landscape and the “spirit of place” as one continuous instrument, using improvised vocalisation, field recorded sounds and gentle movement to build live soundscapes.
Her background as a recording artist, actor, drama tutor and mentor means she’s as much interested in how people inhabit their bodies and the stories they tell as she is in the notes they sing.
The sessions she leads feel more like personally curated explorations than performances.
After our time at the Stone Circle, I suggested we wander down to the Tolmen Stone, where Lulu decided to climb through (as one of the many legends suggests, for purification) … it made for some incredible photographs.
Drawing inspiration from the ancient, rugged landscape of Dartmoor, where she resides, Avoca weaves together vocalisation, sounds from nature and elements of movement and visualisation to create immersive soundscapes that encourage deep relaxation and a sense of tranquillity for the spirit, body and mind.
She works very directly with the land, tors, rivers, ancient sites. Using voice to answer back to ravens, wind and running water in real time.
In her own words, being on the moor lets buried feelings loosen and “a deep, bone‑level peace” wash through, she offers her voice to the sky, stone and rivers as a way of letting go, belonging and being seen.
This sensibility runs through her workshops and collaborations: participants are invited to step away from self‑conscious “singing” and into free‑form sound, movement and visualisation that arise from the place they’re in.
The emphasis is less on polished outcome, more on honest presence. Using breath, tone and simple gesture to reconnect with land, body and whatever the day happens to bring
Although the weather was less than perfect, Lulu’s presence and the location itself made it easy to capture some memorable shots for her website and social media.
Avoca is running workshops and events on Dartmoor throughout the year. To learn more, visit her website😍
If you’re interested in having a portrait shoot on Dartmoor have a look at my Portrait Gallery or Contact Me and we can discuss your requirements 💚📷 I’m always happy to help fellow creatives with their journey.
Even if you think you are not at all photogenic, I can assure you, experience has taught me that your soul will shine through 💚📷