Contemporary influences
Angie Lewin - https://www.angielewin.co.uk/
Angie's work was the first that introduced me to the world of printmaking. Her stylised, graphic depictions of flora and landscape showed me a new way of viewing landscape art.
Angie's work was the first that introduced me to the world of printmaking. Her stylised, graphic depictions of flora and landscape showed me a new way of viewing landscape art.
Heike Roesel - http://www.heikeroesel.co.uk/
Very early in my printmaking journey I discovered Heike's work. I love the atmosphere of her etchings, and the mixed perspectives of her designs inspired me to look at my work in a less literal way.
Very early in my printmaking journey I discovered Heike's work. I love the atmosphere of her etchings, and the mixed perspectives of her designs inspired me to look at my work in a less literal way.
Ian Phillips - https://reliefprint.myshopify.com/
I discovered Ian's work by chance while at a trail race in Wales and was struck by the strong graphic quality of his pieces, somewhere between the Japanese woodblocks of Hokusai and the bold art of comic books and graphic novels. I spent a day in the studio with Ian in 2016, learning about linocut techniques, discussing paper choices, ideas we had and the ways in which you find your own style.
I discovered Ian's work by chance while at a trail race in Wales and was struck by the strong graphic quality of his pieces, somewhere between the Japanese woodblocks of Hokusai and the bold art of comic books and graphic novels. I spent a day in the studio with Ian in 2016, learning about linocut techniques, discussing paper choices, ideas we had and the ways in which you find your own style.
Ashley Thomas - https://a-j-a-t.artstation.com/
Ashley is a member of the online linocut group I'm in. His large, intricately structured works - like sprawling cities of the future - fascinate me and I aspire to the quality of cutting and precision of the minute detail his work has.
Ashley is a member of the online linocut group I'm in. His large, intricately structured works - like sprawling cities of the future - fascinate me and I aspire to the quality of cutting and precision of the minute detail his work has.
Ann Lewis - https://www.annlewis.co.uk/
Ann's openness in sharing her process to people online and encouraging their self-belief is as inspirational as her strong, graphic prints of the Welsh landscape. I've attended a couple of workshops with Ann which have developed my skills as a printmaker and artist and helped me on the way to finding my own style.
Ann's openness in sharing her process to people online and encouraging their self-belief is as inspirational as her strong, graphic prints of the Welsh landscape. I've attended a couple of workshops with Ann which have developed my skills as a printmaker and artist and helped me on the way to finding my own style.
Linda Gray - https://www.lynda-gray.co.uk/
I follow a number of urban sketchers on Instagram, but if I had to choose one to single out it would be Linda, whose crisp, economical line work and gorgeously muted colour palettes represent the Cumbrian environment so perfectly.
I follow a number of urban sketchers on Instagram, but if I had to choose one to single out it would be Linda, whose crisp, economical line work and gorgeously muted colour palettes represent the Cumbrian environment so perfectly.
Kunterbunt (2015) - Heike Roesel
Other influences
More formative influences on the aesthetic of my work are very wide and varied but would include The Designers Republic, Hokusai and Hiroshige, the Australian/Estonian artist Gunnar Neeme and Welsh artist Sir Kyffin Williams.
Of these, Gunnar Neeme has perhaps been the most influential on my art, most notably his work Kalevipoeg, an illustration of the epic poem based on Estonian folklore. For example, Kalevipoeg shown creeping through tunnels between stylised strata of rock.
Illustration from Kalevipoeg by Gunnar Neeme (1918-2005)
Reading
There are really too many books to list that have influenced me, but of the more recently read and most impactful on my art I would list the following:
Mary Oliver - New and Selected Poems (Vol. 1)
Robert Macfarlane - The Wild Places
Robert Macfarlane - The Old Ways
Judith Schalansky - Pocket Atlas of Remote Islands
Jean Napier - Rhinogydd, Ancient Routes and Old Roads
Michael Senior - Hillforts of Northern Wales
Scott Mcloud - Understanding Comics
Dr Seuss - Oh, The Places You'll Go!