In 2009, Angela Palmer installed ten enormous rainforest tree stumps in Trafalgar Square, brought from a commercially logged forest in Ghana, to highlight the shocking rate of deforestation across the globe. Entitled 'Ghost Forest', this important work was shown at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen and the Natural History Museum in Oxford, and is now permanently sited at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

In a similar vein, 'Lines of Time' also asks us to consider the fragility of our forests in the drawn tree rings Palmer has painstakingly hand-etched into glass. These particular rings are inspired by a consignment of ancient teak that was en route to the UK in 1917, when the merchant ship it was travelling on was shot down by a German U-boat. This teak lay on the seabed for over 100 years, where it was naturally sculpted by marine boring insects in some areas, yet immaculately preserved in others. By highlighting these trees’ extraordinary journey, as well as their timeless beauty, Palmer hopes that they will remind us to consider the devastating impact humans have had in a relatively short space of time, and be more appreciative of our planet.

Angela Palmer started her career as a journalist, first working as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph in 1982 and later becoming News Editor at The Observer (1986–1988). Palmer progressed to become Editor of The Observer Magazine (1989–1992) before moving to Elle magazine as Editor-in-Chief (1992–1993). In 2002, Palmer studied Fine Art at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford, where she received the Fitzgerald Prize for her work, before continuing her studies with a Master’s degree at the Royal College of Art.

Palmer’s work tackles complex contemporary issues, and her interest in mapping drives her to communicate these issues in powerful yet beautifully crafted works. Palmer’s work can be found in numerous public and private collections, including the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland, the National Botanic Garden of Wales, and the Science Museum, London.