Starting Out: Early Burin & Plate Prints

When I started printmaking back in 2016 (after first learning the technique during GSCE art classes in 2012) I didn’t expect that nearly a decade later I’d not only still be printing, but would be selling and exhibiting my work too. It can be easy to become complacent about your own practice, and sometimes it’s nice to take a trip down memory lane and look back at the work that started this journey into the world of printmaking. All of these prints were made within the first year or so of picking up my tools, but unfortunately lot of the blocks used to make these prints are too brittle to print from any more.

York Minster from the Shambles

This was the first print I attempted after picking up my new set of Essdee tools and lino blocks. I was a student in York at the time and of course had to attempt one of the city’s most iconic views. From the start I was interested in architecture (thanks to a long-standing interest in architecture as a subject and influenced by my studies in History of Art), particularly old and interesting buildings - which York has plenty of! I still love this print, even though its quite different from my current style, even if I did make the rookie error of forgetting to reverse my image …

Paradise, Birmingham

This one is a location a bit closer to home: the building site that was left when they knocked down the old library and began redeveloping the Paradise area of Birmingham (the new library is in the background and Chamberlain monument in the front, two subjects that I’ve since re-attempted!). I quite like the chatter left in the sky (unintentionally raised areas of lino that catch ink), but feel like I could have used the real estate of the block a bit better!

Dudley High Street

Even closer to home this time! Dudley has an amazing high street that commands impressive views of the medieval castle, and this is my first attempt at carving this view. I like the very gestural, abstract marks in the trees (something I might have to return to!), and can see the start of some mark making techniques that I still use. I was also deep in my colourful paper phase at this point too!

Sedgley Church

This print features the beautiful church of All Saints, Sedgley, complete with the fish weathervane. I was having a lot of fun with the trees and grass, but remember struggling a bit with the actual building - I can see a few places where I slipped while carving! This might be a scene I give another go soon.

York Minster (Again)

Back to York for this final print, which is much smaller than all the rest (an A6 block compared to A4 ones). I still occasionally print this one, because I quite like the overall composition, simplicity, and style. The linework on the rooftops is still something I use today!