Printmakers Circle Book Launch and Exhibition

As a member of the Printmakers Circle I have been delighted to be a contributor to the exhibition and book launch held at Ilkley Manor House during November 2024.

IMPRESSED at Ilkley Manor House Gallery, Ilkley.

Printmakers Circle’s book launch and exhibition celebrates over 10 years of this group of professional artists who specialise in printmaking and live & work in North Yorkshire. To mark a decade of collaborating & exhibiting together, they will be celebrating their book – Impressed – which features in-depth interviews with each of the members giving insights into their techniques, working methods and inspirations. The book will be on sale at the exhibition alongside framed and unframed original prints. Amongst the techniques on show will be etchings, screen prints, collagraphs, linocuts, monotypes & carborundum prints. Two of the artists will be at the exhibition each day to welcome visitors and answer questions.

Members: Laney Birkhead, Hester Cox, John Jones, Caroline Machray, Ian Scott Massie, Moira McTague, Helen Peyton, Bridget Tempest, Philippa Troutman

Moira McTague produced fabulous images for the end papers. Each of our studios in North Yorkshire are etched, all represented accurately ‘in place’.

Each of us had a chapter in the book where we discussed our inspirations, working methods and techniques.

At the heart of Printmakers Circle is the celebration and support of the work and practice of its members. Exchanging prints, as part of a regular exchange project, is a practical and much-valued way of achieving this. This year our Exchange took the theme of Ten to coincide with our anniversary and book launch.

The prints in the limited edition created for each exchange can be in any print medium or combination of mediums. We always enjoy the grand reveal of the latest batch, when we discuss our inspirations and methods all together. Even when members used the same printmaking technique, the work is varied and rich in its contrasting approaches.

These exchange prints are creating a valuable archive for the group, showing often rawness and experimentation not always seen in larger works. The box sets allow a close inspection of prints not behind glass, seeing a more intimate journey of creation in these busy days of digital imaging – a rare and precious thing.

Each artist receives a beautiful box of everyone’s prints; the number one from each set is framed, so it can be exhibited, and a couple of spares sets are also available for sale.

For more information, see the Printmakers Circle Website.