West Horsley Place and The Ingram Collection announce Teshome Douglas-Campbell as inaugral artist in residence

The London-based artist, architectural designer and writer will explore the relationship between art, heritage and wellbeing through a new site-responsive residency at the historic Surrey estate.

West Horsley Place and The Ingram Collection are delighted to announce Teshome Douglas-Campbell as the first Artist in Residence at West Horsley Place, launching a new annual partnership between the two organisations to support artists and explore the connections between contemporary art, heritage, place and wellbeing.

Teshome was selected following an open application process for artists shortlisted for the 2025 Ingram Prize. A London-based architectural designer, visual artist and writer, his interdisciplinary practice explores the built environment through questions of identity, diaspora, belonging and the relationship between people and place. He is an alumnus of the Royal Drawing School’s Drawing Year and the New Architecture Writers programme.

Teshome comments:

“It’s exciting to have such a unique opportunity to look at centuries-old histories with new lenses of inquiry. The residency offers a rare chance for imagination to flourish amongst the rich architecture of a Grade I listed building.”

The residency will invite Teshome to spend time immersed in West Horsley Place, a Grade I listed medieval manor house surrounded by 400 acres of historic parkland, woodland and meadow. He will have the opportunity to explore the estate’s architecture, landscape, archives and stories, as well as engage with the people and communities connected to the place.

Developed around the theme Art, Heritage & Wellbeing, the residency reflects West Horsley Place’s ambition to create a space where creativity thrives, wellbeing is nurtured and connections with culture, heritage and nature are deepened.

Ilona Harris, Director of West Horsley Place, said:

“We chose Teshome Douglas-Campbell as the first Ingram Artist in Residence at West Horsley Place because of the compelling way his work explores history, identity and belonging. From the moment we met Teshome, we were struck by his immediate affinity with West Horsley Place and his curiosity about the many layers of our history – both architectural and social.

“His enthusiasm for uncovering and responding to those stories was infectious, as was his excitement about engaging with our community. We are thrilled to see how his thoughtful contemporary practice will bring fresh perspectives to our past and create new connections with the people and stories of West Horsley Place today.”

The announcement comes ahead of the unveiling of the 2026 Ingram Prize shortlist on 8 October, from which the second Artist in Residence will be selected, continuing the annual collaboration between West Horsley Place and The Ingram Collection.

Jo Baring, Director of The Ingram Collection, said:

“At the heart of the Ingram Prize is a commitment to supporting artists at pivotal moments in their careers, giving them opportunities to develop their practice in ambitious and meaningful ways. Teshome’s work stood out for its thoughtful engagement with questions of identity, belonging and place, making him a natural fit for this inaugural residency. We are delighted to be partnering with West Horsley Place to offer artists the time, space, and freedom to explore new ideas, and we look forward to seeing how Teshome responds to this remarkable historic environment.”

The residency is designed to create space for experimentation and exploration rather than requiring the production of a finished artwork, with the potential for Teshome’s time at West Horsley Place to develop into a future site-specific commission or collaboration.

The new partnership brings together two organisations committed to supporting artistic development and widening engagement with culture. Established in 2016, the Ingram Prize supports artists at the beginning of their professional careers through opportunities including exhibitions, acquisitions and professional development. The West Horsley Place residency extends that support by giving an artist dedicated time and space to respond to a historic place, its stories and its communities.

The residency also forms part of West Horsley Place’s wider vision to establish the estate as a creative campus for artists, makers, communities and audiences, exploring how heritage, culture and nature can contribute to wellbeing.

The house has a long history of creativity and patronage, including being the childhood home of one of the earliest women writers to be published in the 1380s. Previous owners Lord and Lady Crewe (the Marquess and Marchioness of Crewe) were also prominent patrons of the arts with strong connections to the literary and artistic worlds of the 19th and 20th centuries.

From the inception of the West Horsley Place Trust in 2015, there has been a vision for the estate to bring its heritage to life through arts, culture and creativity. Today, the Trust continues that vision, creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience, explore and enjoy the arts, while helping to keep the creative spirit of West Horsley Place alive for future generations.