I graduated from Bath Academy of Art in 1981 with a BA in ‘Visual Communication’ where my love of printmaking, particularly silkscreen was established. Following a spell working as a commercial designer I moved into community print in London supporting individuals and groups to design and print their own publicity.I moved to Yorkshire in 1986 to work with rural communities and set up Rural Arts North Yorkshire in 1990 establishing The Courthouse in Thirsk as a vibrant creative hub in central North Yorkshire for the local community as well as a broad range of artists and arts practitioners.
My prints start life in my sketchbook and explore every-day places and environmental subject matter. I work quickly and spontaneously in-order to create simple but expressive imagery. My main inspiration comes from my immediate surroundings or the many drawings I make on location in museums, gardens, seaside harbours etc. Most of my print designs are created from my memories of a place or object which I simplify when I’m back in the studio. I look for the quirk in my subject matter and I guess my work reflects the rural environment I live and work in. There is a strong graphic style running through my printmaking.
My printing process is primarily photo silkscreen and I experiment with hand drawn and painted stencils I’m not a lover of replicating my artwork using computers and I prefer hand painting onto acetates with Indian ink and overlaying with collages elements. I transfer my designs on to my screens using a large exposure unit before printing by hand in my studio.
My recent work explores the importance of a ‘Sense of Place’ including home, gardening and food and evoke the ingredients that I grow in my garden as well as the creatures that visit.
I have been a full time printmaker for five years and I am currently artist in residence at Harrogate College.
View my print process below
Galleries that Stock My Work
Saltbox Helmsley
Sunnybank Mills, Farsley, Leeds
Masham Gallery
Salt gallery Beverley
Craft Centre, Leeds
'Inspired By' Gallery North Yorkshire Moors Nat Park Danby
Current and recent Exhibitions and Events 2024
Sunny Bank Mills 'Printed Bound' March 2024
Hepworth Gallery Print Fair March 24
Bovey Travey Craft Fair June 24
'Fresh From The Farm' Solo exhibition Masham Gallery July -September 24
'Colours' Group Show Bath House, Harlow Carr Harrogate Sept 24
Christmas Open Studio, Pilmoor 2nd December
Sunny Bank Mills Festive Makers Market - 26th November
Sheffield Print Fair - 11th October
'Bowls of Fruit' Group exhibition, Aire Place Studios Leeds, October
'Art For Youth' exhibition 23rd October
'PRINT' exhibition Gallery Salt Beverley
Hebden Bridge Print Fair 23rd and 24th September
Saltaire Makers Fair - 16th and 17th September
North Yorkshire Open Studios June 2023
Printfest Ulverston 2023
'Saltaire Arts Trail MAKERS FAIR (27th - 29th May 2023)'
'Printed Bound' 23 - Sunnybank Mills
Hepworth Wakefield Print Fair 23
Inspire gallery NY Moors February 2023
Exhibition 'Greenhouse' - Masham Gallery March 2023
PrintFest Leeds 2023
'Source'- Exhibition West Yorkshire print Workshop January -February 2023
Sunny Bank Mills Christmas Market 2022
Sheffield Print Fair 2022
North Yorkshire Open Studios 2022
Printed Bound Sunny Bank Mills 2022
Wirksworth Festival 2022
NYOS Exhibition Sunny Bank Mills 2021
'Art For Youth' Yorkshire 2021
Knaresborough Festival 2021