I took part in a small group exhibition in Penrith over Easter that celebrated a diverse selection of printmaking processes, from relief to intaglio through to giclée from digital art.

The weather was changeable, the roadworks were quite bad, but some interesting conversations were had with our visitors.

I showed giclée works on canvas from some recent explorations into visual art based on musical performance. I also showed drypoint etchings made through software, etched into aluminium plates using my pen plotter and a metalworker’s scribe, and then passed through my etching press.

Press release

Contemporary Art Exhibition “A Press of Printmakers” Celebrates an Exciting Range of Printmaking Processes

Penrith, UK – 23rd March to 6th April 2024 – Gallery 4a is pleased to announce its exhibition, “A Press of Printmakers”, featuring the works of five local contemporary artists: Dorothy Ramsay, Andrea Kershaw, Steve Meyfroidt, Christine Hurford and Alex Jakob-Whitworth. The exhibition will be on view from 23rd March to 6th April, 11am-4pm every day, with a friendly open evening on 4th April 4-7pm.

“A Press of Printmakers” showcases methods of producing original experimental and traditional prints by five artists, each of whom brings their own distinct style and approach to their work.

Dorothy’s love affair with printmaking started over 65 years ago with etching, drawing on metal that is dipped in acid to make a line that will hold ink. “I now enjoy messing with traditional methods and mixing different techniques, usually making one-off mono prints rather than editions.”

Following Andrea’s degree in Fine Art and Master’s in Creative Practice, her printmaking has developed with interest of the notions of the landscape and its interpretation. As with the strata of the landscape, her journey to her outcome of printmaking has allowed her to layer the landscape metaphorically and physically within her work, expressing her reaction and experience to a place.

Steve is a scientist and technologist who returned to university to study for a drawing degree, using his background to make work that freely crosses the boundaries of digital and physical printmaking. His interests lie in making mostly abstract work from fragments of the world around us, using both traditional materials and digital tools.

Christine returned to university several years ago to do a ceramics degree and has since shown work either indoors in historic and unusual places or outside as a response to the place or area. She recently rediscovered a love of printmaking, sometimes combining ceramics and print. “I often use insects and other small creatures to comment on the issues of our time.”

Alex took printmaking as part of her first degree in Fine Art, then in her Master’s she began to be interested in process and meaning as part of the print’s “story”. These wood engraving prints and monoprints are a step in her print/poetry project “A Good Horse” which is part tribute to an equine gentleman friend, Samson the Friesian, and part a reflection upon the entwined horse/human relationship throughout time.

The artists will be available at points throughout to discuss their individual approaches to making work, including techniques that can be tried at home with little equipment.

Don’t miss your chance to experience “A Press of Printmakers” at Gallery 4a, Corney Place (near to the Town Hall), from Saturday 23rd March to Saturday 6th April 11am-4pm every day. The exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit EVAN Gallery and Studios at https://evanevents.co.uk/gallery-4a/.