About
I am an artist and printmaker, living and working in the Forest of Dean. I have been making relief prints, mostly linocuts, since 2014.
Most of my linocut prints are made using the reduction method, where a single piece of lino is carved in a number of stages.
At each stage a print is taken until a whole image is present. I generally attempt an edition of 25, but there are often casualties. I plan carefully; there is ample room for development as I go along. I begin with a drawing that may have taken six months to evolve. This is transferred to the lino as a line drawing, and guides me through the whole cutting and printing process. Generally the lightest colour is printed first, working through to the darkest. I favour earth pigments, but nearly always use ultramarine blue or indigo as well.
My images are drawn from life drawings, sketches made on location, by the Severn or in the Forest or garden. Domestic objects, wild birds and ancient northern ships are also important. I always have a guiding idea, such as the story of Hafren, spirit of the Severn, or the attempt to catch the knife edge between stillness and liveliness in a vase of flowers positioned in a very quiet place in the house, with the light falling from behind through a muslin curtain.
People who enjoy my work comment on the atmosphere of the prints; they know there is a story being told, and respond to the feeling of narrative, without needing to have it spelt out. My work is generally optimistic, looking towards regeneration, resurrection and meditative enjoyment of life, however stormy it gets.
My education has been in English language and literature, which I taught for several decades. Perhaps this explains a leaning towards narrative subject matter. Occasionally I have responded to requests to teach. For example, in October 2022 I taught a short course in reduction linocutting at The Yard Print Studio in Drybrook, Gloucestershire.
Exhibitions
2023 Severnside Press. Severn Sisters group exhibition, Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire.
2023 The Secret Gallery, Newent, Gloucestershire. Prints held permanently.
2023 'PRINT'. An exhibition involving 5 printmakers from the Forest of Dean. Sanctuary Gallery, Newnham on Severn.
2022 16 Gallery, Cheltenham. Printmaking Exhibition. Collaborative.
2022 farOpen open studios in the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean.
2022 7Q Severn Sisters group exhibition, Chepstow.
2021 Lydney Harbour. 'Hafren's Garden' chosen for the information display on the quay overlooking the River Severn.
2021 Old Passage, Arlingham. Group exhibition.
2021 Brockweir Village Shop in the Wye Valley. Solo exhibition
2021 farOpen open studios in the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean
2019 Royal West of England Academy Friends' Biennial exhibition
2019 farOpen open studios
2018 farOpen open studios
2018 A Celebration of Spring. The Secret Gallery, Newent.
2017' Passion' and 'Found' exhibitions at The Old Passage Inn, Arlingham.
2017 FarOpen. Participation in exhibitions at Newland Village Room, and New Leaf pop-up gallery, Monouth as well as opening my own studio in Bream.
2017 'Small Things' The Secret Gallery, Newent.
2015, 2016 and 2017 Penallt Art Festival. Monmouthshire Main exhibition.
2017 Royal West of England Academy, Bristol. ‘Drawn’ exhibition. Selected, not hung.
2017 Newent Community Exhibition, Gloucestershire.
2017 Chepstow Arts Trail.
2016 National Eisteddfod, Abergavenny. Exhibiting with the Penallt Art Festival.
2014 Taurus Crafts, Lydney, Gloucestershire. Solo exhibition.
2008 Brockweir Village Shop, Gloucestershire. Solo exhibition.
2008 until the present. St Briavels Christmas Art and Craft Fairs, Gloucestershire.
Most of my linocut prints are made using the reduction method, where a single piece of lino is carved in a number of stages.
At each stage a print is taken until a whole image is present. I generally attempt an edition of 25, but there are often casualties. I plan carefully; there is ample room for development as I go along. I begin with a drawing that may have taken six months to evolve. This is transferred to the lino as a line drawing, and guides me through the whole cutting and printing process. Generally the lightest colour is printed first, working through to the darkest. I favour earth pigments, but nearly always use ultramarine blue or indigo as well.
Exhibitions
2023 Severnside Press. Severn Sisters group exhibition, Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire.
2023 The Secret Gallery, Newent, Gloucestershire. Prints held permanently.
2023 'PRINT'. An exhibition involving 5 printmakers from the Forest of Dean. Sanctuary Gallery, Newnham on Severn.
2022 16 Gallery, Cheltenham. Printmaking Exhibition. Collaborative.
2022 farOpen open studios in the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean.
2022 7Q Severn Sisters group exhibition, Chepstow.
2021 Lydney Harbour. 'Hafren's Garden' chosen for the information display on the quay overlooking the River Severn.
2021 Old Passage, Arlingham. Group exhibition.
2021 Brockweir Village Shop in the Wye Valley. Solo exhibition
2021 farOpen open studios in the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean
2019 Royal West of England Academy Friends' Biennial exhibition
2019 farOpen open studios
2018 farOpen open studios
2018 A Celebration of Spring. The Secret Gallery, Newent.
2017' Passion' and 'Found' exhibitions at The Old Passage Inn, Arlingham.
2017 FarOpen. Participation in exhibitions at Newland Village Room, and New Leaf pop-up gallery, Monouth as well as opening my own studio in Bream.
2017 'Small Things' The Secret Gallery, Newent.
2015, 2016 and 2017 Penallt Art Festival. Monmouthshire Main exhibition.
2017 Royal West of England Academy, Bristol. ‘Drawn’ exhibition. Selected, not hung.
2017 Newent Community Exhibition, Gloucestershire.
2017 Chepstow Arts Trail.
2016 National Eisteddfod, Abergavenny. Exhibiting with the Penallt Art Festival.
2014 Taurus Crafts, Lydney, Gloucestershire. Solo exhibition.
2008 Brockweir Village Shop, Gloucestershire. Solo exhibition.
2008 until the present. St Briavels Christmas Art and Craft Fairs, Gloucestershire.