I work mainly in relief, using lino and wood blocks and oil based inks. I also make monoprints and collages of printed papers. Prints are usually from multiple blocks with layers of colour and texture. I gather material in all sorts of ways (drawing, photography, found objects) and develop ideas through experimentation. My subjects are often coastal; I have a fascination with and great experience of the sea, boats, birds, the shoreline and peoples’ activities there.
However, I also find ideas in the lovely countryside of north Devon. The above images are all from a handmade book of poems I illustrated last year. It was fun to return to the simplicity of black and white with its graphic punch.
I relish the reduction to essentials that relief prints necessitate, and the judgements involved. Hopefully this results in a very focussed image which gets across my delight in the subject.
More images can be seen on the Appledore Crafts Company website. This is a co-operatively run gallery which has been up and running for twenty years now. Work can also be seen in the Burton Art Gallery, Bideford and the Waterside Gallery, Instow. I will be taking part in this year’s Art Trek and also run occasional print workshops.
January 2011
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