About

 

Printmaking

I make linocut and woodblock prints. My prints depict natural elements such as plants and trees and man-made artefacts, especially buildings. My interest in buildings stems from many years of looking at buildings as an architectural historian. In my prints, I often focus on details, taking visual pleasure in the minutiae of forms and colours as well as seeking to capture something of the essence of the object itself. Through my work I hope to entice the viewer into close contemplation not only of my art but also of the real world from which it stems. For my prints, see the two galleries: currently available and past, sold out, prints.

The prints that I make are based on my own drawings and photographs. I carve and print them by hand. I print on Japanese hosho paper, usually without the aid of a mechanical press. Mostly my prints are produced by a process of reduction, that is to say the lino or wood is progressively carved away after each colour of the block is printed. It means that these prints form a unique ‘edition’ that cannot be re-printed. I only make very small, limited editions of prints – often only 5 to 8 of an image in total. Because of the hand-printing process, with the slight variants and differences that result from that, each print is therefore unique.

Prices for prints generally range from £45-£60. Greetings cards reproducing some of my prints and drawings can be seen here, and handprinted cards here, these are available to purchase – in person or via my online shop.

Textiles and fabrics

My interest also extends to cloth/fabric – printed, naturally dyed, woven, sewn, and knitted – and things made with it. Working with cloth and making things from it offers a combination of beauty, utility, and pleasure that is fundamental to my aesthetic beliefs and practices. Central to my practice is making, by hand, attractive and useful objects that will bring delight to their users’ daily lives.

For some examples of the kinds of things I make and for those available for sale, see the various Textiles pages on this website: handprinted work for sale, sewn pieces for sale, and the gallery of previously produced work.

 

Location

I am based in West Oxfordshire, not too far from Oxford. My work is available to be seen and purchased in Charlbury, West Oxfordshire, by appointment, and much of it can be bought through my online shop. I am happy to arrange for you to see and buy my work in Oxfordshire or elsewhere; feel free to contact me.

Purchases can often be hand delivered in and around Oxfordshire, in and near Burnham Market in North Norfolk, and to central London.

 

Current and upcoming events

To keep updated on events, you can sign up for my occasional newsletter on the Contact page.

You can follow me on instagram (under the name ‘acornandcrottle’) – click on the icon at the bottom of the page.

 

Some past shows, exhibitions, and events

I exhibited work during Oxfordshire Artweeks from 2009 to 2017.

I participated in a Steamroller Printing event on 10th June 2017 at The Bell Inn, Charlbury, as part of the first Charlbury Festival. For some images and videos of the event, see my Instagram account – acornandcrottle- and the charlburyfestival instagram page. For full information on the festival see the website: charlburyarts.co.uk.

Contemporary Art Fair at Stratford Arts House, Stratford-upon-Avon, 3-4 October 2015, and in the Town Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon, 5-6 November 2016.

One of my prints was included in the November 2014 Silent Auction to help The Earth Trust, which is based at Little Wittenham next to the Wittenham Clumps near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

 

N.B. all colours in images and photographs on this site are as accurate as possible but are constrained by the limits of technology.