About the Competition
Celebrating Excellence in Printmaking
Our Annual Printmaking Open Competition continues this tradition by highlighting both traditional and modern printmaking techniques, celebrating the very best in printmaking today. For 2024, we received over 600 entries, from which 268 were selected for our online and physical exhibitions. We awarded a total of 28 prizes worth over £7000! All successful applicants are included in a 10-week exhibition at our beautiful gallery located in the Ironbridge UNESCO World Heritage site. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our amazing sponsors for their generosity and support.
The Legacy of Gunning Presses
Over forty years ago, Dave Gunning designed and began manufacturing the Gunning Presses, enabling artists to print in a variety of ways. Suddenly, a single machine could produce an etching, a lino, or a woodcut, among many other possibilities. Thousands of these presses are now in schools, colleges, art centres, museums, and private studios. The Gunning’s have conducted hundreds of workshops in educational institutions over the past four decades, promoting printmaking to all ages.
Take a look through the Gallery Images below at the physical exhibition at Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery or Click here to view the Online Exhibition
Meet the 2024 Prize Winners
Below Dave Gunning writes below about each of the Winners and why their work was chosen…
Gunning Etching Press Prize Winner
‘Places that whisper’ by Wendy Rhodes
‘It’s lovely the way the atmoshere increases as you move through this print. The line is expressive and textures are powerful. Great piece of work.’
The Prize: A Little Thumper Press with Blankets and Stand
Ironbridge Fine Arts Custom Colour Prize
‘Spirit Hunter’ by Carolin Erolin
“Tremendously powerful image. Very spiritual and well executed. The feeling of life and death is overwhelming. ”.
The Prize: Custom ink creation, 10 pots, and a permanent feature in Ironbridge Printmakers Ink Range
Anglo Prize Winner
‘Hit and Miss’ by Katya Timoshenko
“Colourful, hard-hitting print with powerful figurative imagery. Loved looking at this work for quite a time, and it put a smile on my face!”
The Prize: £50 towards a 2mm pressed Printmaking Blanket
Essdee Prize
‘A Queens Lace’ by Helen A Taylor
“Lovely piece of work, so delicate and what a composition. a super print!”
The Prize: £50 Vouchers spendable upon Essdee Printmaking Products
Essdee Prize Winner
‘Paddle Boarder’ by Megan Hall
“A very tranquil peaceful image. Good use of colour. It makes me want to book a holiday in the sun. Magic work.”
The Prize: £50 Vouchers spendable upon Essdee Printmaking Products
Cranfield Prize Winner
‘The Old bakehouse’ by Nathalie Pymm.
“A beautiful lino reduction print, so crisp and peaceful. “
The Prize: Awarded either a Traditional Relief Ink Set or a Metalic Relief Ink Set
Cranfield Prize Winner
‘Boardwalk’ by Jane Duke
“Smashing feeling of I am out of the city and in the beautiful countryside landscape. Technique is terrific, love the delicate use of colour in the undergrowth. Sense of space is lovely leading the eye to distant places.”
The Prize: Awarded either a Traditional Relief Ink Set or a Metalic Relief Ink Set
Pressing Matters Prize Winner
‘Winter’ by Frances Daws.
“Very powerful sweeping textures which are a feast for the eye. Colours are peaceful and sooth the mood but then grab the imagination with foreground textural fury.”
The Prize:1-Year Magazine Gift Subscription to Pressing Matters.
Southwestart Prize
‘Evening Wood’ by Glenda Hammond.
“A wonderful etching showing superb drawing and such a delicate use of colour. Such a friendly work, a happy etching!”
The Prize: £100 voucher to spend with South West Art
East London Printmakers prize
‘Blues new coat’ By Lindy Norton
“One of my favourites in the exhibition. Such a happy print, so individual. Lovely gentle but fine firm use of line. Magic etching!”
The Prize: 1 years free ELP Associate membership a free box set print of the artists choice and an invitation to exhibit in their festival of print annual show.
Leicester Print Workshop Prize
‘Nature’s Nreath II’ By Jeannelise Edelsten
“Good use of technique creating lots of coloured space to attract the viewers eye. Well balanced forms super print.”
The Prize: A year’s membership to Leicester Print Workshop including a free health and safety induction.
Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery Prize Winner
‘Dragonfly’ by Becky Haywood
“A delicate print showing great use of technique and comand of the picture space.”
The Prize: A three-month spotlight exhibition at Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery, showcasing a full body of work. Plus, an artist’s page with a full feature and online sales of the exhibited work.
Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery Prize Winner
‘Is that time’ by Emma Jackson
“Lovely groundbraking peice of work. Love all the different surfaces to observe and enjoy . I want to pick it off the picture space and hold it in my hands!”
The Prize: A three-month spotlight exhibition at Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery, showcasing a full body of work. Plus, an artist’s page with a full feature and online sales of the exhibited work.
Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery Prize Winner
‘BCC Colours 21 to 40’ by Heather Boxall
“A very stimulating print which captivates the viewer. I ended up playing visual games with this artwork, opening and closing one eye after the other”
The Prize: A three-month spotlight exhibition at Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery, showcasing a full body of work. Plus, an artist’s page with a full feature and online sales of the exhibited work.
Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery Prize Winner
‘Heatwave, Design for a Fan’ by Francesca Centioni
“An incredible design—the shape of the plate is truly groundbreaking. The use of laser cutting for printing surfaces is exceptionally exciting, and Francesca has made remarkable progress in exploring this technique.”
The Prize: A three-month spotlight exhibition at Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery, showcasing a full body of work. Plus, an artist’s page with a full feature and online sales of the exhibited work.
AW Hainsworth Prize Winner
‘Tall Trees’ by Julie Timmins
“This is a beautiful dry point work. The composition is exquisite as is its execution.”
The Prize: a printmaking blanket cut to size.
AW Hainsworth Prize Winner
‘Diving in’ by Drusilla Cole
“A superb reduction Lino cut. The composition and the colours are so uplifting and make you feel happy! Clever use of printed shapes to make a very simple image come alive.”
The Prize: a printmaking blanket cut to size.
AW Hainsworth Prize Winner
‘The Birth of Blodeuwedd/Y Genedigaeth o Blodeuwedd’ by Gini Wade
“A beautifully made print with super strength imagery hitting the heart and soul. Fantastic hidden meanings and what a beautiful image to feast your eyes upon. Lovely Stone Lithographic work.”
The Prize: a printmaking blanket cut to size.
AW Hainsworth Prize Winner
‘The Fate of phaeton bu’ by Eric Gaskell
“A very colourful exciting work. Superbly executed, creating a feast for the eyes to look at.”
The Prize: a printmaking blanket cut to size.
AW Hainsworth Prize Winner
‘Swimming in stars’ by Martin Truefitt-Baker
“A beautiful lino print. It feels very happy, and such a smashing use of colour.”
The Prize: a printmaking blanket cut to size.
John Purcell Paper Prize Winner
‘Collected Fragments’ by Lou Thompson
“A very clever intricate piece of printing. Lots to explore, great embossing and printed shapes. Fantastic work!”
The Prize: A £150 worth of vouchers to spend with John Purcell
C.Roberson & Co Prize Winner
‘Nan’s Garden’ by Emma Bond
“A very clever combination of techniques. A stunning piece of work with lots to explore. More please!”
The Prize: A Printmaking Set.
C.Roberson & Co Prize Winner
‘One more cup of coffee’ by Sheila Woollam
“Lovely black aquatint and a very striking image. Well done.”
The Prize: A Printmaking Set.
Ironbridge Pub Company Prize Winner
‘Dragon under Oxford’ by Deborah Champion
“Amazing Reduction Lino Print. The image is wickedly strong with a power of incredible energy and substance. Well done.”
The Prize: A £150 voucher to spend at The White Hart or The Water Rat both situated in Ironbridge, Shropshire.
Printmaking Today Prize Winner
‘Here we go again’ by Sunny Wong
“A strong striking etching. A very powerful figure creating much movement into the picture space.”
The Prize: Will receive a 2024 Magazine Subscription to Printmaking Today.
Printmaking Today Prize Winner
‘The Quiet Carriage’ by Layla Ewen
“Terrific technique creating a facinating top quality print. Such entertaining one to look at.”
The Prize: Will receive a 2024 Magazine Subscription to Printmaking Today.
Fine Art Trade Guild Prize Winner
‘Gimble 4’ by Sally Weatherill
“Super technique creating interesting movement. The use of subtle colour really enhances the printed image.”
The Prize: Artist Associate Membership for 1 year including Access to Fine Art Trade Guild member expertise, Eligible for entry to Guild Artists Showcase, Art + Framing Today magazine (AFT) 4 issues p.a
Moonshine & Fuggles Prize Winner
‘The Cracked Boulder – Mynydd y Dref’ by Andrew Abram
“A very clever lino print . The technique almost looks photographic! Cool work.”
The Prize: Bottle of Speciality Gin and Mixers
Centrado Student Sponsorship
‘Strada Nova’ by Sienna Forbes-Lee
The Sponsorship: Artwork to be beautifully framed for the Printmaking Exhibition in Centrado Luxe Moulding and Invisible AR70 Artglass
Centrado Student Sponsorship
‘Lady with the lamp’ by Ellie Hargreaves
The Sponsorship: Artwork to be beautifully framed for the Printmaking Exhibition in Centrado Luxe Moulding and Invisible AR70 Artglass
Centrado Student Sponsorship
‘Hope in the darkest of places’ by Elizabeth Mellor
The Sponsorship: Artwork to be beautifully framed for the Printmaking Exhibition in Centrado Luxe Moulding and Invisible AR70 Artglass
Centrado Student Sponsorship
‘Final Flight’ by Elizabeth Mellor
The Sponsorship: Artwork to be beautifully framed for the Printmaking Exhibition in Centrado Luxe Moulding and Invisible AR70 Artglass
Sponsors
A huge thank you to all our sponsors for your support and prizes! We are so delighted to work with you and include you in this exciting venture!
