Levens Hall Gardens Inspiration

We used to travel past the sign for Levens Hall a few times a year on our way to the lakes, but we hadn't visited for many years.  This time, however, I was on my own and it was one of my last visits.  It was a gloriously sunny day and despite £9 entrance fee I decided to go into the gardens and once again I was entranced by the wonderful topiary and secret gardens spaces.  I spent the afternoon taking photographs of the truly Alice in Wonderland landscape. 

 The Open House exhibition this year, is linked to Old Trafford Open Gardens and these gardens have provided the perfect setting for a series of work.

 Mixed media collage and gouache 

  Mixed media collage and gouache  

Faber Gallery paintings and copper sulphate print

Lobster Pots

I am uncertain as to why I am attracted to particular images but the Lobster Pots is an image I keep returning to, as a favourite series.

It may be related to memories from childhood, of books and half remembered illustrations.  The images themselves have nothing to do with me personally, it is more about capturing that an unidentifiable feeling.

This is a mixed media piece combining a weather map from the Festival of Britain with other ephemera from that time.

            

A risograph print exploring the composition for a subsequent screen print for the waterbomb books.

This collage made from printed surfaces.

One of two collagraph plates made and printed last week

The second of the collagraph plates and I printed more of these.  This piece was double printed and I am pleased with the atmospheric quality it has achieved.

Each one of these set of prints came out completely differently and has strong evocative feel.

An image transfer over  a Risograph print originally for the cormorant images.

Costal Responses 1

Ravenglass

I had not expected to visit the sea or that the different places would be so contrasting. I only knew  Ravenglass  for the miniature railway I remember being taken to long ago. A wide variety of seascape in quite a small area, offering surprising beachcombing potential.

New Years Eve

I've been meaning to post some images of recent work

 for awhile and already its the end of the year.  

I want to celebrate with pieces that reflect

 the rediscovery of my identity.

 

These images explore current preoccupations 

and loosely refer to memory and childhood

Pages from my Altered Books

Where and Which Way

The History of Toys

 

The Complete Book of Handicrafts

 

These collages produced in the altered books provide the starting point for the subsequent work, either as a whole or in fragments. As the work is processed through photocopying, printing and image transfer techniques so the fragments gain new identities

(For some reason the titles are refusing to play ball - not sure why)