This weeks Gunning press printmaker is the wonderfully talented Nathalie the owner of a Gunning press Number 2 Direct drive. Nathalie is a printmaker who certainly doesn’t shy away from colour, a lover of lino reductions Nathalie captures her daily inspirations from her love of elephants to capturing quirky little building’s.
Tell us about yourself:
“I am a mixed media artist and printmaker specialising in lino printing. I have always loved creating art and attended adult education classes for painting when my children were little. Now I am the proud owner of a beautiful Garden Studio where I can be found most days either carving out or printing one of my lino cuts or teaching small workshops for adults.”
How did you get into printmaking?
“It started when I visited a printmaker during Open studios. I fell in love with the effect of lino printing and couldn’t wait to learn and get started – ten years later and I am still in love with the whole process from start to finish!”
How would you describe your artwork?
“I am inspired by many things – my pets, still life around the home, places visited and architecture. I love creating whimsical prints too – you will see my cats are in many lino prints as are my love of frogs, elephants, owls… I am always on the lookout for beautiful handmade papers too to use in my lino prints.”
How do you plan to take your artwork forward?
“I am currently working on a series of flower heads which is completely different for me! So far I’ve made a lino reduction print of a beautiful allium head and I am now working on a sunflower. I’m hoping to get quite a few more done before my next Open Studios next June.”
Why did you feel a Gunning Etching press was the best fit for you and your artwork?
“I was on the look out for my own etching press for a while; I really liked the look of the Gunning Etching press, the choice of sizes and of course the price. Jenny Gunning invited me to bring some lino cuts to print out to try on their presses at their Ironbridge Gallery. I had a wonderful few hours talking to Jenny who is a fantastic printmaker and had great fun using their presses. The Gunning Etching press is very easy to use and produces fabulous quality prints every time. Soon after, I ordered a No. 2 Gunning Etching press which has pride of place in my studio. Jenny delivered this with a stand on wheels and set it up for me in my studio in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
For me, the Gunning Etching press is perfect for printing out lino prints. It also gives me the flexibility if I want to do collagraph, etching or mono printing in the future.”
What’s your favourite feature on the Gunning Etching press that helps your printmaking process?
“Where do I start?
So many lovely features on my press!
The first would be the beautiful solid steel roller which is a good size and is very sturdy. I also love the turning wheel ( I have the star wheel, not a round wheel) which is always a pleasure to use when printing out my lino prints. I love how you can tighten/release the pressure with ease too. The bed feels lovely and sturdy and easy to clean and which I attach my registration pins on to so that I can create lino reduction prints easily.
I bought the stand for my press with wheels and brakes so that I have the flexibility of moving my press out of the way when visitors come to see my work during Open Studios. It’s so good to have a shelf underneath too for my extra printing places, paper, etc.”
What do your students enjoy printing on your Gunning Etching
press?
“I run small adult workshops in my studio where the students create their own lino prints using my Gunning Etching press. They all love using it and are very happy with the results of their prints. I teach them how to print lino cut with colour, chine collee, rainbow rolls and also creating lino reduction prints.”
Most printmakers has a name for their press, does your Gunning etching press have a nickname?
“Of course! My Gunning Etching press is called Grace! She is very elegant, works so smoothly, quietly and easily and looks great too!”
What would you say to someone thinking about purchasing a Gunning etching press?
“Definitely! Visitors are always admiring my Gunning Etching press when they come to see me and my work during Open Studios and I always recommend they make an appointment with Jenny to go and try out the presses for their own printmaking. They have a good range of sizes to suit all printmakers – huge ones to small A4 size to suit everyone depending on space in their studio or home. The support is amazing too after you’ve bought one of their presses and the prices are very reasonable. I love the fact you are buying from a small family business too who care about their customers.”
Where can our readers find your work
“I exhibit locally in Buckinghamshire and also have work available at a lovely little gallery called ‘Secrets’ in Port Isaac. I belong to Buckinghamshire Art Society and we have two exhibitions a year; I also take part in Bucks Art Weeks every June where I open my studio to visitors so that they meet me and see where I work. I am currently preparing to take part in the Amersham Art Unlocked Autumn Fair on Saturday November 5th.
All of my lino prints are available to buy from my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/nathaliepymmart”
Comments you would like to share with our blog readers?
“I can’t recommend Ironbridge, their Gunning Etching presses and their staff enough.
A wonderful family run business; they are all so helpful and friendly. I was lucky enough to have a solo exhibition in January 2022. Sarah and her team hung my work beautifully on their walls; the lighting and venue are perfect for exhibiting. The gallery is a printmakers dream shop; they do framing, sell their own rollers, choice of inks, papers, lino, plates, tools, everything you need to get started or top up your own supplies!”
To see more off Nathalie’s work you can find her at…
My website is https://www.nathaliepymm.com
Facebook: Nathalie Pymm Art
Instagram: nathaliepymm
LinkedIn: Nathalie Pymm
Thank you for reading!
Happy Printmaking!
All the best,
Ellie & The Team!
Tag us using the Hashtags…
@Ironbridgeprintmakers @Gunningetchingpress #GunningEtchingPresses #GunningEtchingPress #JennyGunningPrintmaker
If you have read to the bottom of this blog you are entitled to a free gift, please email Jenny@IronbridgefineArts.co.uk with your preferred printing Relief or Intaglio to claim. Postage of £6.99 will still apply.
