I have lived in St Ives for thirty years and it is this town, which is a constant source of inspiration to me. The beautiful fish, the seagulls and the people. I walk around the harbour or sit on a wall watching, listening and being amused by some of the goings on. 

Although I draw and paint I get the most satisfaction out of printmaking as it combines art with craft. There is something very exciting about working on a plate, putting it through a press then peeling back the paper to see what has been produced. 

I was born in England of an English mother and a French father. I have lived and been educated in both countries, finishing at the Wimbledon School of Art. I started my career of as a theatrical costumier and designer working in Edinburgh and at the National Theatre, London. Then I fell in love with St Ives, which meant that I had to find a new vocation combining the things I enjoy which are drawing and constructing. 

The solution — Printmaking ! 

 

COLLAGRAPHS 

These days I work almost exclusively on collagraphs despite enjoying other forms of printmaking such as etching and monoprinting. 

My collagraph plates are made from dense card. I usually draw out on the plate with an etching tool and cut into the board with a scalpel and create textures with both implements. I apply several layers of varnish and resist mediums to introduce tones. 

The collagraph plate is inked up as an intaglio print with the ink in the recessions or as a relief print, and then put through an etching press on damp paper.