In the Spirit of Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious

For this exhibition (curated by Iris Weaver and Brian Webb) I created five especially produced prints, which were linocuts. In comparison with work produced using computer programs such as Photoshop or Illustrator they are “low tech”. They are examples of my strong authorial autographic work and reflect my researched knowledge of the craft and its ancestry. The prints further reinforce my position as being an illustrator and printmaker working in the tradition of Edward Bawden (though not simply copying his style).

In reviving the technique of linocutting, I have added a more contemporary take on the technique, applying it not simply to limited edition prints but also to my commercial work. My ability to design and use limited colour enables me to create strong graphic images, of which Bawden also was a great exponent.

I am interested in the way in which Bawden simplified forms and it is my desire to continue and develop this approach. Like Bawden, my work is a response to the English landscape and architecture whilst also introducing an element of narrative to the imagery.

Ultimately, I aim to combine my low-tech approach to printmaking with computer programs that retain the autographic quality of my works whilst allowing me to develop texture and tone.