'Red Herring' ~ Monoprint

Winner of the Branston Art Award 2012

I would describe myself as a ‘painterly’ printmaker. I love to experiment with texture and colour and enjoy the excitement of the ‘accidental’ image. I use a variety of printmaking methods, often combining collagraphs, lino, screen printing, monoprints, collage and paint. My pictures are generally unique ‘one offs’ or part of a small edition.

I spent most of my childhood messing about on beaches: in my formative years I lived across the road from the sea. This had a profound effect on me: as a child, I loved the colours, the light and shade, the seasons, the feeling of expansion and wide open places; the freedom of being able to run for miles with the wind in my face. I love big skies, seas, countryside, the human form, still life and natural materials.

I strive to make my work a true expression of how I feel in relation to what I see and experience. I love the freedom and excitement of the monoprint. In this process, an image is painted onto a plate and then printed using an etching press. As a result, each image is unique, and although I may loosely paint the same subject again, each print will be vastly different.  Many of the images are drawn from my imagination and sub-conscious. Inspiration often comes through music or spiritual philosophy and experience.

I studied printmaking in Cheltenham in the ‘70s and after gaining a B.Ed. Hons, went on to teach Art for a number of years. I have finally fulfilled my dream and now have my long awaited printmaking studio.

I look forward to exhibiting my work as part of Somerset Arts weeks 2012.

Private view at my studio in Haselbury Plucknett, near Crewkerne:  Friday 14th September 2012 from 6pm onwards.  All welcome but a prior email would be great. I look forward to seeing you then.