My practice explores the dualities of identity and the nature of memory. I use interior spaces to form a structure that witnesses the narratives of human relationships, and the passing of time.
Printmaking is a central tool, and I use the process of stone lithography to paint and draw directly on to the limestone with traditional crayons and tusche; a process which unites the drawn and painted mark. The use of water tusche wash occurs as both material and metaphor; rain, tears, vessels expanding the notion of fluidity of memories and cycles of nature. I am drawn to states of transition; between exterior and interior worlds; psychological and physical, absence and presence, surface and depth.
The etching process in lithography chemically changes the surface of the matrix and the image is printed from the flat surface of the plate or stone. This is called planographic printing. The image is chemically processed with gum arabic and nitric acid solution which transforms the drawing into the printing matrix. During printing the stone is constantly kept damp and the water forms a protective barrier on the non-drawn area which only allows the inky roller to touch the drawn areas. Each colour layer requires a different stone to be used, and this is a slow an meditative process which allows many different visual effects to be obtained.
I am the co- author of Lithography: An Artist’s Guide, Crowood Press, 2023. I run The Lemonade Press, a studio dedicated to Lithography.
Stone lithography is considered an endangered craft by the Heritage Crafts Association, and I am one of the few practitioners in the UK.
My work can be viewed here.
