"The artist is also a born adventurer. His explorations, unlike those of the tourist, are rewarded by the discovery of beauty spots unmentioned in the guide books, and with tireless curiosity and an exceptional proneness to wonderment, he will come upon objects of remarkable interest overlooked or even shunned by more disciplined observers."

Augustus John, R.A.

Saturday 14 September 2019

V International Mezzotint Festival

My three prints hanging at the V International Mezzotint Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts, Ekaterinberg, Russia.


Friday 6 September 2019

Up North Printmakers - Set Up


A late night yesterday setting up the Up North Printmakers exhibition at Higherford Mill Artists Studios with Pete Marsh, Lisa Moore and Anita Burrows. Just waiting now for an early Saturday morning setup by Peter S Smith RE and we'll be all ready for a 10am opening on Saturday. And don't forget Hawthorn Printmakers will be with us on Sunday 15th September with lots of printmaking goodies.

Work below by; Alan Birch, Jill Randall, Anita Burrows, Lisa Moore, Julie Robinson Southwood, Pete Marsh and myself. An eclectic exhibition, we have Etchings, Drypoints, Woodcuts, Wood Engravings, Linocuts, Monoprints and Mezzotints on display.

















Sunday 1 September 2019

Up North Printmakers Annual Show - Higherford Mill, Barrowford.


With my solo show at The Folly in Settle now up and running. It's time to turn my attention to the forthcoming annual exhibition of Up North Printmakers at Higherford Mill in Barrowford nr Colne. A place which is quickly becoming our spiritual home since a number of us first met there in 2012 at the Pendle Print Fair. This years show has become something of a reunion as we have invited as our special guests Peter S Smith RE, Alan Birch and Jill Randall, all of whom were also present at that first Print Fair.


Born in Cheshire, Peter S Smith RE, member of the Society of Wood Engravers and the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers. Formally Head of the School of Art and Design at Kingston College is one of the finest wood engravers working today.

Alan Birch needs little introduction to northern printmakers, a well known printmaker and educator he runs printmaking workshops from his studio at Waterfoot in Rossendale, at schools and hospitals around Manchester as well as regular workshops at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester.

Jill Randall, also based like Alan Birch at Prospect Studios in Waterfoot is an internationally known sculptor and printmaker. A member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, from 2007-2010 Jill was artist in residence at Parys Mountain Coppermine on Anglesey producing a fine body of prints from plates etched in the acidic waters of the mine.

On Sunday 15th September we will also be joined by Hawthorn Printmakers Supplies of York who will be there with an assortment of inks, rollers and other printmaking tools. So for all you north west based printmakers this will be an opportunity to buy supplies direct rather than ordering on-line and waiting for delivery.