Joanna received a Grants for the Arts (G4A) award from Arts Council England to undertake a period of research and development.  She divided her time between a month long residency in the relative isolation of WASPS studio, The Booth, on the west coast of Shetland and her studio.

Whilst in Shetland she immersed herself within the landscape, recording her responses through writing, drawing and photography.  She became fascinated by the minutia of detail within the landscape (natural and manmade) juxtaposed against the enormity of the sky, land and sea. 

Contact with Veernorth and local arts organisations added a particular resonance to the richness of her experience which included; visits to archaeological sites and the Shetland museum, a book workshop at Bressay lighthouse and an introduction to the traditional craft of Fair Isle knitting.