Interactive Art Trail Reveals Devon Coast Stories
A new interactive art trail telling the stories of ten unique Devon families with a strong connection to the sea is open to the public.
The Voices of the Exe Trail has been created by the University of Exeter’s Resilience of Coastal Communities project, with ten markers around Exmouth ready for people to discover. From boat builders to the harbour master, business owners who rely on marine tourism to the Earl of Devon, each marker tells a different story via audio clips accessed with a QR code.
A mural to celebrate the trail has also been designed and painted on the side of The Strand Inn pub in the town by Exmouth artist Gary “GARf” Cook, who has created an artwork for each marker as well.
Dr Louisa Evans from the University of Exeter is Principal Investigator for the project and said: “Our coastal communities are vital for the UK’s island identity but also hotspots of deprivation and at the forefront of risks from climate change. Ensuring we value and support the hardworking people at the heart of these communities is at the crux of this project and integral to the government’s imperative to invest in and regenerate seaside towns.
“We spoke to families who represent the resilience of coastal communities, but these oral histories often get parked in a museum and forgotten. The Voices of the Exe Trail brings these remarkable stories to life to showcase the importance of vibrant, working coastal communities and how vital it is to protect them.”
Debra Quine runs the ‘Bumble and…’ cafes in Exmouth and grew up in a home right by the Exe Estuary. Debra and her family are one of those featured in the trail and by living and working so close to the water, has seen the positive effects it’s had on locals and visitors alike.
Debra said: “I had the most idyllic childhood here and when you sit on the beach and look up the estuary it’s stunning. I love being by the sea. I’ve met people in my cafes who have never seen the sea before and the look on their faces and the impact it has is amazing. I think it’s healing. I’m delighted to be part of the Voice of the Exe Trail and hope these stories give people an insight into what life by the water is like.”
A launch event for Voices of the Exe Trail, which runs until October 2026, is taking place at Bumble and Bee in Exmouth’s Manor Gardens from 3pm on Friday 9 May 2025.
https://news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-environment-science-and-economy/geography/discover-remarkable-stories-of-life-on-devons-coast-through-new-interactive-art-trail/