Time - at the Highgate Gallery

Silent Cover has been selected for the upcoming Printmakers Council Exhibition at Highgate Gallery, based at the Highgate Scientific and Literary Institute in London.

This work was produced during a period of time spent studying Wicken Fen Nature Reserve and takes inspiration from ways at looking at this unique, magical wetlands landscape.

‘Time’ is an exhibition featuring work by members of The Printmakers Council and promises to be a showcase of contemporary printmaking. Many wonderful printmakers taking part.

Press release

Silent cover, Photopolymer etching, mono print, acrylic ink & machine stitch

Exhibition dates - February 7th - 20th , Highgate Gallery, Highgate Scientific and Literary Institute, 11 South Grove, Highgate, London, N6 6BS. Opening times; Tues - Friday 1 - 5pm / Sat 11 - 4 / Sunday 11- 5 / closed Mondays. Admission Free

Everyday Delight

Here is some news of current and upcoming events that I am involved with. Also a snippet about my recent experimentation.

Everyday Delight, 05/12/2019 – 28/02/2020, Free Space Project, Image by Karen Weik

Delighted to be taking part in this group Exhibition with a title that seems especially pertinent right now. An exhibition by Shutterhub Artists all about looking for the joy in the small things, finding the magic in what might at first appear mundane, and discovering the beauty in the everyday.

At Free Space Project, Kentish Town, London Kentish Town Health Centre, 2 Bartholomew Road, London, NW5 2BX. 05 December 2019 – 28 February 2020

Opening times: 8.30am – 6.30pm, Mon – Fri.
(Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day)
Exhibition Launch Event: 6.30-8.30pm, 05 December 2019
RSVP: info@shutterhub.org.uk

Flyer design; Jonathan Emmerson.

We will be holding a one day Open Studios event at the Forge Studios, Digswell Arts, on Sunday 1st December. Times are 11 to 4pm. Come along and meet the artists and see current work in progress. Festive Refreshments on sale. Free parking.

I will be there all day showing some of my recent mixed media work. Find out where we are and who else is here by checking out the Digswell Arts website

Boden Press, image from a day making a sugar lift etching plate with Helen Boden.

Last spring I attended a group of courses around the country led by some fascinating artists, to broaden my knowledge of traditional and contemporary printmaking processes. One plate I produced was an etching plate on copper, at Boden press, which involved markmaking with a sugar lift technique. Since then I have been mainly exploring ways to interpret these plates; I had made quite a few very different plates in the end but felt this was only a starting point. How you print with a plate can vary so much. In particular I have enjoyed layering imagery with different plates. Also cropping plates and adding to the resulting print with collage and ink. The fascination for me is with the exploration of the imagery and discovering different methods of translation. Other courses were at Ochre Print Studio, London Print Studio and Stoneman Press

Crossing I, etching and collage on Somerset satin.

Crossing i is one of the prints from this period of experimentation of method and context. This work is currently on show at the Ropewalk Gallery, Barton upon Humber till 1st December. A Printmakers Council selected group Exhibition.

Land Sea Sky, till 1st December,

Current Exhibitions this Autumn

I am very delighted to let you know about a group of exhibitions I am involved with this Autumn.

Home, Gallery at Home, Monmouthshire, Wales, 5th Oct - 19th October

I have 3 Digital prints selected for a group exhibition being organised by Shutterhub in aid of homeless charities.

“We’ve teamed up with the beautiful Gallery at Home in Monmouthshire, Wales to create an exhibition of photography called HOME, in support of homelessness charities across the UK. We asked photographers to donate images to raise money for in order to raise funds for Crisis, Shelter Cymru and Toiletries Amnesty, and help more people get the chance to know what home really feels like. Shutterhub press release

Photo Letchworth, Broadway Gallery, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, 21st September - 1st December,

I have had a Photogram print selected to be part of this exhibition showcasing artists, who are local to Letchworth, that use Photography in their work. This is accompanying “One day this glass will break’ , a Hayward Gallery touring exhibition ‘presenting ‘20 large scale photogravures by renowned artist Cornelia Parker’, ‘ also in the Main Gallery.

“Photo Letchworth, is a new photography competition and exhibition at the Broadway Gallery, showcasing the photographic talents from residents of Letchworth and the surrounding area. The 21 works currently on display were selected by a guest panel of judges from over 300 entries that were submitted over a 5 week period in Summer 2019”

“The guest panel consisted of award-winning photographer Chris Frazer Smith, curator Cassie Beadle (The Cob Gallery, London) and print sales specialist Anstice Oakeshott (The Photographer’s Gallery, London). Each entry was assessed against 3 criteria; experimentation, composition and subject matter. The public vote that will decide which photograph is awarded the 2019 Photo Letchworth prize is now open, visit the gallery to cast your vote.” Broadway Gallery press release.

Land Sea Sky, Printmakers Council, Barton upon Humber, 26 October - 1st December.

A recent print titled ‘Crossing I’ has been selected to be part of this group show happening at Ropewalk Gallery in Barton upon Humber. Especially chuffed that my print has been used in the publicity. Whoop de do.

This recent work is part of a series for an ongoing project with Artist Helen Terry titled ‘Tracing shadows’ I will be showing a larger group of unique works in Suffolk in Spring 2020.

Crossing I , sugar lift etching with collage.

Time to think - at Festival Pil'Ours in France - extended

I’m very delighted to hear that Shutterhub has been asked to extend the exhibition ‘Time to Think’ currently at Festival Pil’Ours in France, until the end of November 2019.

I love lots of the photos in this show, which is based at the seaside location of St Gilles Croix de Vie, and very proud to have had three photos selected for this event.

These 3 photos are all from a project based at Wicken Fen Nature Reserve which examine alternative ways of seeing and attempt to highlight the delicate and fragile landscape at this unique Fenland. These images were collected during a two year residency I undertook with Artist Helen Terry; 2016 - 2018.

Hide ii , Digital Photo

Time To Think includes the work of 145 female photographers from across 15 different countries, and a total of 435 images. The beautiful and sleepy seaside town of St Gilles Croix de Vie wakes up each summer for this vibrant and inclusive festival of female photographers, and this year Shutter Hub had the privilege of being be invited to curate the main festival exhibition. We’re proud to share powerful work, and to do it en masse – showing the strength in community and collaboration, and bringing photographers together in a sharing and supportive environment. excerpt from news post on Shutterhub

Exhibitions coming up

This weekend at Digswell Arts Forge Studios

Open Weekend 11 - 4

Sat 11 / Sun 12 May

Displays, workshops, demonstrations, tea and cake, Artists open studios.

Digswell Arts Print Studio set up for Open Studios May 11/12

Work by Jonathan Emmerson, Mary Down, Jane Glynn

Print room hanging day - lunch break

work by Mary Down

Also, coming up

Contemporary Art + Ritual

Crypt Gallery, St. Pancras Church, Euston Road, London, NW1 2BA

Dates; 16 - 21 st May

Times; 10 - 6 each day.

Encompassing sound, light, paint, dust, wood, thread and more, the group show reveals ritual to be an expression of human life that is undergoing a process of constant reinvention. The Crypt’s atmospheric brick vaulted passageways add to the theme and will take you on a fascinating and unique artistic journey

More details about the Contemporary Art + Ritual exhibition:
https://artandritual.wixsite.com/mysite/artists + http://cryptgallery.org/events/
Accessibility: Regrettably there is no wheelchair access to the Crypt Gallery. There are steep uneven steps with a handrail leading down to the gallery. The floor of the gallery is uneven stone.

Rust print and Dye on Fabric

Photography and ink in Tin Light Box

Meditative, demanding, repetitive - Ad Reinhardt on Rituals.

Using photography, drawing and installation my recent work takes inspiration from investigation into the fragile and splintered shoreline of the Essex East Coast. In particular I am interested in how the rituals of mark making and process can create a dialogue about these transient and enigmatic margins.

Excerpt from Exhibition catalogue, April 2019

Illuminations at Fenners Gallery & Project Space

Our exhibition in Letchworth is under way and will evolve over the week.

One or both of us will be there during the coming week and we have our Meet the Artists event this Saturday 27th April. A kind of closing event, although we are open one more day after this. We take the work down on Sunday 28th April at 4pm. A lovely steady trickle of visitors so far and with some meaningful conversations. We’ve been managing to get a few photos from the show and will be continuing the record the show as it evolves.

Helen has put together a statement which wonderfully captures our project.

Beyond the edges,

Contemporary Art + Ritual

Excited and chuffed to be invited to exhibit with a fantastic group of contemporary artists this May.

At Crypt Gallery, St. Pancras Church, Euston Road, London. 16 - 21 May

Private view and opening event with all the Artists is on 16th May from 6 - 9pm.

Illuminations - Exhibition at Fenners Gallery & Project Space this Easter

This April Helen Terry and myself will be revealing current investigative and exploratory work in an Art Installation at the Fenners Gallery in Letchworth.

Illuminations will be part installation and part work in progress and will reveal current themes and lines of interest from our collaborative and ongoing project.

Our current work is drawn from a collective interest in ideas to do with fragility and transience in the landscape. In particular the fragile balance that exists between land and water.

Using photography, combined with assemblage and mixed media we will be installing, and working on , current work during the duration of the show. The Installation will evolve during the 8 day event and the closing event on Saturday the 27th April will be an opportunity to see completed work.

Visitors are very welcome to pop in at any time during the duration of the show from Friday 19 to Sunday 28th April and one / or both of us , will be there each day to welcome visitors.

The Fenners Gallery and project space is managed by Digswell Arts and located just behind the Broadway Gallery in Letchworth, a few minutes walk from the main shopping centre of the town and next door to a short stay car park.

Digital photograph on acetate with acrylic ink

This show throws a spotlight on our ways of working and collaborative process and we will have sketchbooks in the gallery space for visitors to see. Over the past 6 months or so we have been taking it In turns to work at each others studios, with the objective of encouraging more breadth to our work by sharing methods and approaches and thereby helping to instigate discussion on collective lines of interest.

Helen’s Studio July 2018

Although we were keen to avoid using a specific landscape location for this project we have enjoyed collecting imagery and inspiration from the coastline near to Helen’s studio. The many creeks and margins of Essex in particular have provided us with some dramatic and thought provoking sources and context for our developing ideas.

Helen at Bradwell, march 2019

Old Hide, Bradwell by sea, March 2019

The culmination to our project collaboration will form the basis for a travelling show of work in 2020, beginning at Snape Maltings Easter 2020.

For updated news on our work and project see our Instagram posts.

https://www.instagram.com/sally.tyrie

https://www.instagram.com/_helenterry

January reflections & Artist of the Month Feature

Its a very healthy and useful thing to occasionally reflect and ‘step back’ in order to check on the journey you are making with your work. I have been fortunate recently to have had that chance with the Digswell Arts Artist of the Month Feature

Current Sketchbook page - Photogram on matt paper

reinterpreting imagery from last years Installation at Wicken Fen nature reserve.

As part of this feature I got to reflect on, and highlight, some of the work i’ve been beavering away at over the past few months.

Small Photogram collages using machine stitch

These collages combine darkroom based photograms, that I have produced at Digswell Arts Forge Studios in Hertfordshire with machine stitch. Myself and a handful of other artists there were keen to explore our photography skills further and with a little bit of jigging we’ve been able to adapt a small space at the studios into a temporary darkroom space. I was also lucky to have lots of equipment donated by 2 very kind local artists who had collected an amazing stash of photographic supplies. It’s good to put it to use.

Photogram glue and tracing paper

Digital Photo, Leigh on Sea, December 2018

Digital image, near Burnham on Crouch, East Coast

Taking this exploration forward - my current work is being shaped by some new sources of inspiration.

On a recent photography trip with Artist Helen Terry, I collected a group of images that record the fragile and transient environment of the mudflats and creeks that splinter the coastal regions of the East of England.

We have also since followed this day up with a shared studio day. Helen and myself have been keen to follow up our exhibition and residency last year with more practical studio days so we have tried hard to squeeze in some time collaborating and working together in ‘the studio’

One of the drawings I produced from the day - ‘ghost’ mono print from carborundum plate , on paper

Coming Up

• Myself and Helen plan to have an exhibition of our studio work in the coming year. More to follow

• Open Studios at Digswell Arts - May 11/12 2019

Waterhall Studios - WINTER OPEN

I am delighted to announce 2 Open Studios events coming up in December

Waterhall farm, Whitwell. Photo credit - Graham Matthews 2018

Sunday 2nd Dec at 10 - 4

Saturday 15th Dec at 2 - 5

Studio view, Waterhall Farm, June 2018.

A rare opportunity to view inside the studios, see work in progress and meet the Artists at Waterhall Farm in Whitwell, Hertfordshire. SG4 8AF

Map Link

entrance to the farm via the B651 ; Whitwell to Hitchin Road

Free parking opposite the paddock / disabled parking next to Waterhall Joinery in the yard

I will be delighted if you can join me at our very special seasonal event. Please do come along if you can make it and enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. You can also purchase hot or cold drinks and snacks at Emily’s Teashop which is open from 10 - 4 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Looking towards Whitwell, Winter 2016, Digital Photo

Also view the work and studios of;

Alex McIntyre, Fine Artist

Graham Matthews, Torus Photographic

Sarah Baylis, Textiles

Miriam Fraser, Fine Artist

also on site - The Linen Chest and Emilys Teashop

News from the Studio

Over the past 2 months I have been enjoying immersing myself in my artistic practice amidst the glorious countryside environment that surrounds my studio, in a small corner of Hertfordshire.

The work I have recently been developing started taking shape whilst undertaking the residency at Wicken Fen, that I worked on with Helen Terry back in April. We were both immensely pleased with the work we completed for this project and touched by the feedback we received but we also felt that there were areas of interest that could be taken further.

Digswell Print room, July 2018

Although we work in quite different ways and with different media we decided the best way to move these emerging ideas forward would be through a series of joint studio days.

Helen Terry’s Studio in August 2018

In August I spent a fabulously productive day in Helen’s studio experimenting with materials and process to take some of these ideas further.

Helen’s palette in the studio - For the main part of the day we undertook some practical experimentation with media and imagery.

We started the day chatting and writing masses of notes about our ideas, whilst sitting in Helen’s lovely summer house - Specifically we wanted to identify areas of interest that we felt had scope to be taken further. Also, to explore the ‘cross overs’ and our ways of working in order to add breadth and depth to our working practices.

Monoprint drawing, drawing ink on Japanese paper.

Armed with a mass of materials and tools it was fun ‘mixing it up’ and working out of our comfort zone.

Monoprint drawing, ink and acrylic paint produced in Helen’s studio. Laid out on my studio floor at Whitwell and thinking about ways to frame.

We came away from the day with some food for thought and both buzzing to spend some time in our studios seeing where some of these ideas could go.

Photograms laid out on my studio floor at Whitwell and thinking about composition and how they could be framed up.

Over the past month its been a case of working on several threads of thought both in my studio as well as the darkroom at Digswell Arts and also in the Print studio there.

Although at the moment I am not sure where some of the work is going, the journey is proving to be both challenging and rewarding.

Digswell Print Studio August 2018. Working on some new plates.

Work in progress, Digswell Print Studio, August 2018. Solar etching and mono print on Japanese tissue.

Work in progress, Digswell print studio, September 2018, solar etching and mono print on Japanese tissue.

Helen and myself will soon be getting together again for a second collaborative practical day where we will be reviewing and reflecting on the work we have both been developing over the summer. In my next post I will be able to reveal more of our project and our plans for a future show of work. Also a sneak peek of the larger canvases I have been working on and some smaller experiments with Cyanotype printing.

Sketchbook page - Sept 2018

A Sense of Place

Week 2 - Woodlawn, New South Wales

One of the things I love about being an artist and a teacher, is the opportunity to meet new people. Being an artist itself is a continual learning adventure but the additional role of teaching can bring a whole host of extra rewards. Working with others no matter what their level of knowledge can show you new skills and new ways of doing things. Crucially you can also learn new things about your self. Being an artist can be a fairly isolating time and at times it is good to have the peace and contemplative space of the studio. However, I also find it important to occasionally get out of the studio environment and make the most of opportunities to work with other artists and see new places. The great thing about this trip to Australia, and working for Fibre Arts, was that it combined all those things. 

Morning mist at Woodlawn, New South Wales, July 2018

Group photo o nthe last day - with my students from the Print and Stitch class, at Woodlawn. We were feeling a tad relieved to get the exhibition of work up. 

For the second week we were located at St. Johns College, Woodlawn, New South Wales and from the outset it was clear that the exotic, milder climate in this region of Australia would provide a very different kind of vista to the first week in Victoria, where the temperatures had been much lower. 

Early morning mist rising from the river 

The school was sited fairly high up on a hillside and surrounded by a river that virtually circled around the entire area. Early morning especially provided some beautiful misty views - it didn't take long for me to regret not packing my camera - I had to resort to getting pictures with my phone. 

Student work 'detail' from my print and stitch class.

Student work in the Final day Exhibition - Print and Stitch Bookwork 

Student work In the final exhibition - book piece using a found book, mono print, collage and stitch. 

Detail of student work using found book covers, monoprint, collage and stitch. 

In the second week we all got a bit obsessed with book making - Art Books of course. This was helped massively by the fact that the trade stalls had lots of old books fo sale. In an immersive experience such as Fibre Arts Australia ideas can become contagious and we were all learning from each other - whether it was a method of making or a way of using the materials. In our Print and Stitch Class we also had time for a nice long and meaningful session on the Saturday morning for a group critique - this was the first time a few of them had ever done anything like that and they found it to be a very useful way to reevaluate their work and move forward.  

Collaborative Book piece which we made as a group for the 'Top Table' and charity auction

Saturday afternoon and some time off - got to visit Byron Bay, New South Wales - crazy to think this is winter 

On route home I got to see the beautiful location of Brunswick Heads on the East Coast - a peaceful tranquil small town just up the coast from Byron Bay. Normally going home can be a bit of a drag - long waits in the airport or a tricky connection to get there. This time it was a joy thanks to one of the lovely ladies in my class called Ann, who gave me a lift in her Mobile home. On the last day we did a 3 hour leisurely drive heading north and along the East Coast to Brisbane Airport, combining lots of chatter with even more sightseeing.  I had my very own tourist guide - how lucky was I  

Brunswick Heads, New South Wales, July 2018 - last day enroute to Brisbane Airport 

The Art of Collaboration

Looking back, one of the most rewarding aspects of taking part in The Winter Fibre Arts Australia Programme was the opportunity to work with such interesting and like minded artists. The first few days back in my studio in Hertfordshire has been a case of recording all the ideas that have come directly from this experience. So many ideas are simmering away that i'm having to put some ' on the shelf' for now.

Top left; small work by Seth Apter (New York Artist and Tutor) I acquired this piece when we swapped our work. The other pieces are small playful pieces I made during the second week. 

At the end of the first week spent at Ballarat we had an exhibition of the work produced during all 9 Workshops. I was blown away by the variety of media and approaches. 

Book piece made in Sue Ferrari's Embroidery workshop, Ballarat 

Detail of work made in Kirsten Ingmar's Plant Dyeing Workshop, Ballarat

Work made in Charlotte Sehmisch's Sculptural Felting Workshop, Ballarat

Work made in Meghan O'Rourke's Jewellery Workshop, Ballarat

Work made in Seth Apter's Book making Workshop, Ballarat 

Lorell Lehman Fantasy Figures Workshop, Ballarat

A Collaborative book made by Jet James's Class using Collagraph prints ( for the Auction) 

Work in progress spotted on the workbench in Judith Gray's Encaustic Workshop 

When you put several artists together In the same space with a multitude of materials to play with its inevitable that one result is the crossing over of ideas and its fun to see that some of the artists will be doing some collaborative projects over the immediate months to come. In the second week especially, and due in part to the wonderful array of objects to be found on the trade stalls, we all got a bit obsessed with old tins and books. Seth Apter made some wonderfully inspiring pieces for the inside of some rusty tin lids and over the coming months Glenys and Nonie have set themselves a challenge to make a series of art pieces for tins that will go into one of their auctions. I can't wait to make some work to go inside a set of tins I picked up - I'm mulling over what to do with the Emu Feathers that were inside them.  

I'll be making some work to go inside this gorgeous old tin I discovered on the Trade stand run by 2 lovely ladies that have an eye for 'finds'

Exploring Fresco Paints on book pages. 

Workshop times would often go on into the evening which gave us all some extra times to pop into each others workshops to see what was going on. In the second week I got to try out some of the gorgeous chalky paints that Seth Apter uses in his practice - these are supplied by Paper Artsy, a company based in the UK. Since getting back to the Uk I've ordered a few colours and Im having fun experimenting with them on some of my larger mixed media pieces In the studio. 

In my next Blog Post I want to share some of the stunning scenery of Australia and especially the exotic and at times eerie location we found ourselves in for the second week.

No Kangaroos, but a wealth of talented artists

Last week I returned from a 17 day trip to Australia where I had been delivering a series of Print and Stitch workshops as part of the FibreArts Winter Programme. It was strange leaving the sweltering heat of our UK summer and arriving into the midst of their winter but aside from being so far from my family, the trip was sheer joy and a very special memorable time. I feel so honoured to have been invited there and to have met such a great bunch of artists. 

Kirsten Ingmar and myself at Bexhill, New South Wales, Australia. (2nd week) 

Sunset watching at Bexhill, just before dinner. Kirsten also wanted to get some more flora and fauna for her wonderful plant dyeing workshop. 

Week one.

FibreArts Australia is primarily run by two amazing women, Glenys Mann and Nonie Sutcliffe and they are assisted by a host of additional artists, quite rightly called the 'Golden Team'. They deliver a series of similar events across the year, each one featuring a group of invited artists from across the globe. 

The first week's event was held at Ballarat Grammar College, an hours drive from Melbourne and the location of the stunning Lake Wendouree. Ballarat itself is a charming town stuffed with grand Colonial ( Gold rush) wooden houses. On our half day off I was fortunate to get treated to a drive around the location by 3 of my students Debbie, Kaye and Jenny. Glimpsing house after house brought to mind scenes from Wild West movies.

I was particularly struck by the wealth of talent amongst the Tutors and it was fascinating to learn more about their practice through their slide show talks. These were held throughout the week and luckily I got to do my talk on the first evening so I could sit back and enjoy the rest of the week feeling relieved I had got mine out of the way. We also had the opportunity to display and sell our work at these talks.

The Australian Tutors were Judith Gray, Kirsten Ingmar, Sue Ferrari, Meghan O'Rourke, Jet James and Lorell Lehman. The other Tutors from outside of Australia were Seth Apter (New York) and Charlotte Sehmisch, (Weimar, Germany). The large team working hard to keep the event lively and entertaining and look after all the guests included Ginnie, Sue and Angie as well as chefs, cleaners, site managers and school liaison reps. Many of the attending students were accomplished artists in their own right and there were a fair few who had travelled by plane and across several time zones to reach the event; eg; from New Zealand and Singapore. 

Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Victoria 

10 X 10 sale of Artwork , featuring donated artwork.

There were a multitude of side events which made the week extra special, many of these raised impressive funds for supported charities. In particular FibreArts supports the Indian Water project - an inspirational venture headed by Glenys and Nonie - http://www.fibrearts.jigsy.com/india-water-project

Events during the week included timed sales of donated artwork plus an Auction of donated artwork on the final evening. Also trade stands where students (and tutors ) could stock up on media, books and tools. 

Work top and Classroom used for my print and stitch workshop- The Language of Marks

Student work;  by Kaye

Student work;  by Wilma

Student work; By Rhonda

Student work; By Kerrie

At the end of the week there was an exhibition of all the artwork created and it was stunning. An amazing quantity of work produced across all 9 classes. I was very proud of my own students and I was delighted that a few of them had also had a go a making a small book piece. This gave me an idea for my second week. More to come of this in the next post !

A group of us fly off to the east coast for the second week which was held in New South Wales.  More to follow in the second post. 

Classroom at Ballarat, with paper, tools and example work plus work for sale. July 2018

Waterhall Open Studios

Thanks so much to all our visitors to this years Open studios event at Waterhall Farm. We were blessed with good weather and it was very rewarding meeting lots of new people who were discovering our tranquil corner of Hertfordshire for the first time. We also had lots of support from fellow Artists, friends and family and we really appreciate their visit, which was invariably accompanied by fruitful discussions and useful feedback. 

Here is a small glimpse... ... (most images are from my studio and I also managed to quickly nip round and get a few pictures from Miriam's and Graham's studio too)

Miriam Fraser Studio

Miriam Fraser Studio

Graham Matthews Studio

Over 300 visitors to our Forge Open Studios

A heartfelt thanks to all the visitors to this years Open Studios weekend at Digswell Arts Forge Studios. We had lots going on. Our promotion this year to publish our event was a real team effort and we think it paid off as we had over 300 visitors. We had lots of social media posts leading up to the event, giving sneak peeks, plus some newspaper and magazine articles. I also got to promote the event on BBC 3 counties radio, which was lots of fun.

work by Mary Down

Work by Kirke Raava

Work by Jane Bottery

Film and Photography by Caryl Beach

Installation and sculpture by Bob Spriggs

work by Juliana Loveday

Here is a link to the interview I had on BBC 3 counties radio - this short interview is 2 hrs 10 minutes into the programme which started at 6am on Saturday 2nd June. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p067bd3n

Next Up - I have my Studio Opening at Waterhall Farm Studios in Whitwell this Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th June at 11am to 4pm. Other Open studios on the same site include Alex Mcintyre, Graham Matthews, Miriam Fraser and Aneta Wiorek. Langley End studios are also opening on Saturday 9th June - and just a short drive up the road. 

In June - not 1, but 2 !! Open Studios Weekends

I'll be at Digswell Arts on Friday 1st June for the PV and on Sunday 3rd June, along with fellow artists and printmakers. On both days you'll be able to meet and chat with a large number of the artists and see their studios. We have also invited the Wi to sell tea / coffee and cakes. 

I'll also be opening my own studio at Waterhall Farm, in Whitwell along with 4 of my fellow artists on the same site on Saturday 9th June and Sunday 10th June.

The artists at Langley End Studios, just up the road, are also joining us and opening their studios on Saturday 9th June.

Times for both events are 11 am to 4pm. 

more specific details and images to follow soon. 

Exhibition images and on the Horizon

A glorious spell of Spring sunshine, coinciding with a Bank Holiday, is finally providing me the opportunity to sit in a shady part of my garden and update my website with images of new work and news of what's been going on. 

Myself and Helen had a wonderful few weeks in April putting on our show of work at Babylon Gallery in Ely. Coinciding with this we installed art work in 3 of the Hides at Wicken Fen Nature Reserve. We have been overwhelmed with the response to the show and we are still processing the many positive comments that we've received from the many visitors. 

Babylon Gallery, Waterside, Ely April 2018

The work on show included Mixed Media, Photography, Prints and Drawings. Visitors could also view a slide show on a large screen Tv which revealed additional images from the project as well as our working practice. 

Somewhere In-between ii,  Mixed Media on paper

Meet the Artists, Sunday 22nd April 2018 

The meet the Artist events at the Gallery and the reserve also gave us the opportunity to chat to some of our visitors and talk about the themes and inspiration behind our work. 

Perceptions 3, Helen Terry, Dye, Acrylic and stitch on antique linen. 

Working on this project has been a joy and we are both very pleased with what we have accomplished, both at the reserve (the Installations and trail) and the work on show at the gallery.

We are currently planning and researching new project opportunities and locations. 

We still have some catalogues left that document the project, the location and resulting work. Neither of us has produced a document like this before so we are chuffed to have had orders from destinations as far afield as New Zealand and Iceland, amongst others. 

Catalogues can be purchased directly from either myself or Helen.

Coming up ;;

Helen has work on show in 'a contour a curve - the lie of the land'  at Gallery 57, Arundel from 19th may to 27 Aug https://www.gallery57.co.uk/contour-a-curve-the-lie-of-the-land

Also, I will be taking pat in Open Studios at Digswell Arts on Sat 2nd June and Sunday 3rd June and will have work on show in the print room

plus I will be opening my studio for the Open Studios at Waterfall Farm, on sat 9th June and Sunday 10th June

Hidden; Installations at Wicken Fen National Trust Nature Reserve

Last Thursday was the installation day for the site based project at Wicken Fen Nature Reserve that myself and fellow Artist Helen Terry have been working on. After months of planning and 2 years of regular visits to this wonderful, magical location we got to see how all the work looked 'in situ'

Hidden; is a series of mixed media installations sited in 3 specific Hides at the reserve. Sometimes fairly visible and at other times in more secretive positions within the Hide, they respond to the observations and shared insights that have resulted from our research, both at the Fen and in the studio.

They 'invite visitors to share in some of the less obvious insights that have inspired' ' Glimpses through woodpecker holes.  Shafts of sunlight.  The textures of weathered windows.  Things you may not usually notice'   

The Installations can be discovered at The reserve until Wednesday 25th April in The Boardwalk Hide, Eastmere Hide and Charlies Hide.

Visitors will be able to pick up a map with locations and details in the Visitor Centre - open 10 - 5 every day.  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen-nature-reserve/features/reflections-and-revelations-hidden-art

Meet the Artists - On Saturday 14th April at 11 - 4 pm in the learning Centre. 

Helen Installing work in Eastmere Hide

Sally installing work in Charlies Hide

Reflections and Revelations

Spring 2018 is not far away now and I'll be very pleased to see the last of this winter's grey and overcast skies. The frequent onslaught of rain and sleet hasn't been that helpful for getting out and about in the countryside. The studio has been a tad chilly too so I've been spending more time at the Digswell Arts print room attempting to complete some of the mixed media print work that i'll be displaying this Spring

Mixed Media print detail 

I love to discover new ways of working too so i've been playing around with using acetate based imagery for some current book pieces. I had produced acetate imagery for the Solar prints and I loved the way the photographs from the Fen looked quite ghostly and enigmatic especially when layering imagery together.  

Acetate paint ink and stitch Book piece 

The work for this project will be on display in 'Reflections and Revelations' - an Exhibition and Art trail by Myself and Helen Terry  in march and April this year.  

Exhibition at Babylon Arts Gallery, Ely, Cambridgeshire 9 - 22nd April

Art trail around specific sites at Wicken Fen nature reserve  23 March - end April

Getting ready for some assemblage