Private View: Friday 1st March 7-9pm
Exhibition Dates: 2nd March – 28th May 2024
Join us for our Private View as we launch our Spring exhibition, where you can savor some bubbly and beer, mingle with our exceptionally talented artists, and immerse yourself in a captivating array of artwork. Our Spring Exhibition features a diverse showcase featuring Printmaking, Drawings, Paintings, Photography, Pottery, Jewellery, and Fused Glassware.
Below we give you an insight into our Artists and the work you can expect to find in the exhibition…
Growing up, I was surrounded by printmaking, thanks to my lifelong printmaker father and art teacher Mom. The sights, sounds, and smells of ink, etching plates, and printing presses were my daily companions. At the age of 7, I created my first aquatint etching, a majestic whale, and that first-ever print reveal had me hooked for life.
As a child, I dreamed of becoming a printmaker. Drawing all the time. That childhood dream became my reality. Creating art isn’t just a choice for me; it’s an intrinsic part of who I am. I constantly produce new work because it’s a compulsion I can’t resist.
I permanently exhibit my work in my beautiful Gallery here in Ironbridge, which we have had for 18 years, before that I had a small Gallery in Ironbridge and before that, I was at the top of my garden.
L U C I A F R A S E R
Lucia Fraser, a versatile artist hailing from the picturesque Shropshire Hills, draws profound inspiration from the rich tapestry of nature that surrounds her. Her artistic journey is a vibrant narrative woven with threads of creativity, passion, and a keen observation of the natural world.
With a palette as diverse as the landscape that inspires her, Lucia’s art reflects the ever-changing hues and moods of the environment. Each stroke of her brush is imbued with a sense of wonder and reverence for the beauty found in the simplest of things.
At the heart of Lucia’s work lies a deep connection to memory. Her pieces, born from fleeting moments and cherished recollections, take on a life of their own as they evolve into mesmerizing abstract forms. Each artwork becomes a journey—a visual exploration of emotions, experiences, and the passage of time.
But Lucia’s artistic expression knows no bounds. Beyond the canvas, she explores the realm of ceramics, translating her painterly techniques into three-dimensional masterpieces. Her ceramic creations bear the same fluidity and recognizable mark-making as her paintings, resulting in surfaces that are not just tactile but imbued with a sense of movement and life.
F A I T H C H E V A N N E S
Faith is a printmaker and works from her studio in North Cornwall. Her work captures fleeting moments and precious glimpses of our fragile natural world. Drawing is central to her process. She makes small editions of drypoint intaglio prints, that showcase the beauty of the mediums’ irresistible rich velvety burr lines.
Recent pieces revolve around her love of wild birds and many of them have a humorous perspective, which capture some of the fascinating little characters she has observed. She worries about environmental changes to their world causing them to lose habitats and become endangered,
critically endangered and extinct.
K A R E N U L P H
Karen Ulph is renowned for her dreamlike abstracts, offering viewers a captivating experience where each glance reveals something new. Influenced by her diverse living and travel experiences, her work reflects a deep connection to the places she’s inhabited.
Having relocated to Shropshire in 2014 from the south coast, Ulph now works quietly from her home studio, diligently crafting a new body of work. She shares, “I love feeling the wildly different landscapes as you travel and how through our connection to them, they shape us.” Her exploration of Shropshire and North Wales has unveiled numerous hidden gems and wilderness areas, with an enchanting sense of magic lingering within the land.
Ulph’s childhood, marked by frequent international moves, instilled in her a rich tapestry of cultural influences, including a wealth of folk and fairy tales from around the world.
Describing her artistic process, Ulph explains, “All of my pieces have their own personalities.” She begins by meticulously mixing colors and inscribing prayers, lyrics, and other written devotions directly onto the canvas. Her technique involves layers of paint, whimsical pencil marks, scratching, and smudging, with the canvases rotated in various directions to find balance.
As the paintings take shape, Ulph spends more time observing than actively creating, allowing their personalities to emerge. Hung around her house, they become part of her daily life, inviting a gradual refinement process marked by careful contemplation.
Ulph describes this phase as the most delicate part of their shared journey, where the slightest adjustment could alter their direction entirely. Ultimately, she reaches a point of serene satisfaction, recognizing when a piece is complete and requires no further intervention.
“My photography always returned to the idea of a good life: the artisans who still make and work in a natural, hands-on way. Fishermen, bakers, makers: I wanted to claim that analogue life for myself, and traditional printmaking offered me the opportunity.”
Mark Lord aka Lino Lord, is a professional photographer whose 22-year career behind the camera led to a passion for capturing the essence of the natural world, his heritage growing up on the Cornish coast and the people that look after their small corner of the world. In 2019 he set up a studio space at home & started carving a few lino blocks. After the COVID pandemic temporarily put a hold on his photography career he was able to spend more time in his print studio rather than behind a camera.
“I’m Cornish born and bred, as are my parents and grandparents before me. I grew up in a small village a couple of miles from Falmouth, too far away to hear the sea perhaps but certainly close enough for it to play a huge part in my life. I’m neither a fisherman or sailor but that doesn’t stop the feeling of connection to the rolling waves and rugged shores that I think every Cornishman shares”. Lino Lord prints lean into the rich history of craft from Cornwall, embracing timeless techniques to capture fascinating natural and iconic imagery. From the naive folk art of rural England to the St Ives school of artists, retro-chic contemporary objects, and simple Scandinavian design, Lino Lord’s work embodies a natural, distinctive style.
‘The joy of printmaking for me is rooted in the traditional tools and time honored techniques that create beautiful, affordable art for every wall. Each print is entirely handmade by me – from the first sketch, to inking the lino and turning the wheel of the press. I enjoy the honest, analogue process and no two prints are ever the same’
Mark has since started spreading his love of lino printing by teaching others how to develop their skills & get creative. Mark enjoys sharing the skills he has developed over the last 5 years with his students, from drafting the design, carving the lino & printing the final artwork. Mark finds that inspiring others to start their journey with printmaking is particularly a rewarding part of his own printmaking journey.
In October 2023 in partnership with Ironbridge Printmakers Mark launched his very own Lino Lord relief printing kit which is available in the Ironbridge shop and on the website. He is delighted his kits are already being enjoyed from Lands End to LA.
“My photography always returned to the idea of a good life: the artisans who still make and work in a natural, hands-on way. Fishermen, bakers, makers: I wanted to claim that analogue life for myself, and traditional printmaking offered me the opportunity.”
Mark Lord aka Lino Lord, is a professional photographer whose 22-year career behind the camera led to a passion for capturing the essence of the natural world, his heritage growing up on the Cornish coast and the people that look after their small corner of the world. In 2019 he set up a studio space at home & started carving a few lino blocks. After the COVID pandemic temporarily put a hold on his photography career he was able to spend more time in his print studio rather than behind a camera.
“I’m Cornish born and bred, as are my parents and grandparents before me. I grew up in a small village a couple of miles from Falmouth, too far away to hear the sea perhaps but certainly close enough for it to play a huge part in my life. I’m neither a fisherman or sailor but that doesn’t stop the feeling of connection to the rolling waves and rugged shores that I think every Cornishman shares”. Lino Lord prints lean into the rich history of craft from Cornwall, embracing timeless techniques to capture fascinating natural and iconic imagery. From the naive folk art of rural England to the St Ives school of artists, retro-chic contemporary objects, and simple Scandinavian design, Lino Lord’s work embodies a natural, distinctive style.
‘The joy of printmaking for me is rooted in the traditional tools and time honored techniques that create beautiful, affordable art for every wall. Each print is entirely handmade by me – from the first sketch, to inking the lino and turning the wheel of the press. I enjoy the honest, analogue process and no two prints are ever the same’
Mark has since started spreading his love of lino printing by teaching others how to develop their skills & get creative. Mark enjoys sharing the skills he has developed over the last 5 years with his students, from drafting the design, carving the lino & printing the final artwork. Mark finds that inspiring others to start their journey with printmaking is particularly a rewarding part of his own printmaking journey.
In October 2023 in partnership with Ironbridge Printmakers Mark launched his very own Lino Lord relief printing kit which is available in the Ironbridge shop and on the website. He is delighted his kits are already being enjoyed from Lands End to LA.
Celebrating ….
The blues of the oceans and the greens of the meadows.
Combine these with the alchemy of the Phoenix
And
the mud of Mother Earth.
So
I give into the shape forming that expresses a deep gratitude of simply being alive.
Feel their energies and sink into the blue oceans of time,
And relax into the green meadows of springtime.
Lizzy Gunning
Also discover new works from our Core Artists including
As a family-run independent Gallery, your continued support means the world to us and allows us to support a wide range of artists. We look forward to sharing this exciting celebration of incredible artists with you!
