As a professional Printmaker I use various printmaking techniques to best describe the subject of an image, be it Etching, Drypoint, Linocut or Monoprint. I like to showcase individual species, drawing attention to their beauty, their personalities and in some cases their vulnerabilities. I often include some human element in my images to remind us of the symbiotic relationship we have with the natural world and of our responsibilities to treasure it in a fast changing world.

When I was a child, whether guddling in the rockpools at lowtide, or investigating the homes of insects in the hedgerows, there was a curiosity of the natural world. I graduated from Art college in 1990 with a degree in Environmental Sculpture which eventually led to a career in Landscape Design and Horticulture. In 2013 I reacquainted myself with Printmaking and began making work that reflected my lifelong passion with the natural world.

I have exhibited at the Limekiln Gallery in Calstock – Cornwall as part of a collective since 2014 and in 2018 – 2022 exhibited as part of Cornwall Open Studios and 2018-2022 in Drawn to the Valley Open Studios, Devon. I currently run printmaking sessions from my studio in Downderry Cornwall and at The Press Room at Ocean Studios in Royal William Yard, Plymouth, Devon.

 

Inspiration from the Sea

I’m a printmaker that lives and works by the sea. I use diverse printing processes to reflect every day observations and my environmental concerns. My studio is very close to a much loved dog walking beach on the South East Cornish coast. I’m extremely fortunate to live and work so close to the ocean. I’m messy and a bit of a hoarder, so the studio is full of the flotsam and jetsam given up by the tide, pressed seaweed, an assortment of bones, strange objects and bags and bags of human detritus. This rich resource is the inspiration for many of my prints.

I love Etching but found this difficult in lockdown as I was no longer able to go to Tamar Valley Printmakers Studios, which specialises in traditional Etching processes. I bought a larger press for my studio and started to explore Mono – printing for the first time. I’ve had so much fun developing techniques which enable me to express my love of my environment and visualise some of the challenges we face. My work is getting bigger and more colourful, its also travelling underwater, as I imagine life ‘Beneath the surface’.

Latest Projects

Plymouth's first ever print festival!

Combining creative expertise and collaboration with printmakers across the South West, the festival will take over Ocean Studios, Royal William Yard and offers a range of masterclasses, tasters, workshops, talks and stalls for you to explore and take part.

There will be something for everyone, along with good food and live music. A rare opportunity for you to immerse yourself in creative contemplation, collaborate in making prints big and small and print your action on the collective Truth Wall!

This 2 day event is action packed  with a plethora of hands on making, masterclasses and amazing music entertainment on the Saturday night – Mad Dog McCrea!

VIEW ALL EVENTS