Ely Cathedral 2019

I'm just about recovered from last weeks Fair at Ely Cathedral.  One preview evening and three full days trading was exhausting but really enjoyable.  I had a prime spot in the nave with lovely neighbours Slate & Nature and Mud + Water.

Between customers it wasn't too much of a hardship to admire the Cathedral.  I heard that 15,000 advance tickets were sold this year.  I also bought and swapped a few things with other stallholders, which is always a nice way to start one's Christmas shopping.

4th Mini Print Show

I am pleased to have three mini prints represented again in this lovely show, which starts the rounds again this week in Aldeburgh.

Ede's Lemon           Avocet            Shoreline

Ede's Lemon is a collograph inspired by the large pewter plate in Kettles Yard House which always has a fresh lemon artfully placed upon it.

Avocet and Shoreline are both inspired by recent trips to the Norfolk coast.  I love the reflections in the wet mirror-like sand.  Avocet is a relief print hand-carved from rubber.  Shoreline is printed from specially coated paper-drypoint card.

The show tours around the country, continuing into next year.  To find out more click here: Red Dot Art Consultancy.

Photos from Open Studios 2019

Bit slow updating my blog, but thought you'd like to see some photos from Open Studios. My studio was open for the 1st, 2nd and 4th weekends of July this year.  I took a break on weekend three to go to Latitude Festival in Suffolk for the first time. We had a wonderful time.

Ollie dog was very good with all my visitors and gave up woofing by the end of day one.

This was my 24th year of Open Studios and it turned out to be my second best year in terms of sales.  Very pleased about this as it's a difficult time economically and politically at the moment.

I sold two of the Kingfisher framed original prints, two Autumn Branches, Wishing Rocks and several unframed prints too as well as the usual cards, coasters and tea towels.  Many thanks to those who visited and here's to my 25th year in 2020!

Cambridge Open Studios 2019

 

It's coming up to that time of year again when all the artists in Cambridgeshire start frantically tidying their studios and I'm no exception.  There are 370 of us this year in 222 studios, so plenty to choose from.  There are four studios in Milton with a new one in the Industrial Units near Tesco.

This will be my second year in my wonderful new garden studio (the novelty still hasn't worn off). I have plenty of new prints and cards to show you, including some large pebble collographs which I'm really pleased with.  Do come along, any of the three weekends, there will be refreshments if it's hot and shelter if it's raining.  Follow the yellow flags along Fen Road, there is plenty of parking on our driveway.

Mini Print Exhibition

The third Mini Print Exhibition comes to Cambridge today.  Featuring more than 400 original works each measuring 10 x 10cm or less with prices from £30 - £300.  Opening times:
Thursday 4th April: 2pm - 5pm
Friday 5th April: 10am - 7pm
Saturday 6th April: 10am - 5pm
Sunday 7th April: 10am - 3pm

I have two collographs in the exhibition.  I bought a lovely print by Elizabeth Morris last year so really looking forward to seeing what they have this year.

A high quality, 48 page, full colour catalogue depicting many of the prints as well as a glossary of the printmaking terms employed, can be purchased here or from the gallery during the exhibition run.  It is £5 plus p&p.

New Stockists

It's always great to be contacted by well established and respected galleries who'd like to stock my work.  I've had three new ones recently who have been in touch. Most recently is Ferrers Gallery, which looked very picturesque when I visited this week, even on a grey January day.

Ferrers Gallery is a multi award winning independent gallery promoting British contemporary craft. The gallery is set in the beautiful landscape of Staunton Harold near Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, and has three floors featuring the best of British Contemporary Craftsmanship, with jewellery, ceramics, glass, textiles, paintings and sculpture. I recognised work by several artists I follow on Instagram.  They now have six of my framed pictures and a selection of cards in their 'Fresh' exhibition which runs until 24th March 2019.

Another new stockist is Arteria, a wonderful looking contemporary gallery I can't wait to visit in Lancaster.  They sold out of all the things I sent them at Christmas, including three original prints. 

Even further north is the Found Gallery, in Dunbar, Scotland, run by glass jeweller Amy Christie.  I hope to get there one day as the gallery and location sound wonderful.  They have a nice selection of my coasters, cards and unframed prints, selling two original prints in December.

Birch Book

Last year I was asked by Anna Lewington for permission to use my "Silver Birch Wood with Long-tailed Tits" screen-print design in her new book about the humble birch tree.  I said of course as she would credit me in the text and also send me a copy of the book.

I'd almost forgotten about it when last week the book arrived.  I was thrilled to be in the same chapter as art heroes such as Millais, Gustav Klimt and van Gogh.  The book is a lovely specimen with interesting articles about how the birch has widely colonised the cool parts of the northern hemisphere, their versatility and usefulness to make a huge number of  things.  Also it's use in medicine, in folklore and for inspiration to artists (such as me).

I'm looking forward to sitting down and having a proper read.  There's a video of me flicking through the book on my Instagram page.

It's published by Reaktion Books ISBN 978 1 78914 011 8