All Things Considered

St. Jude’s at Tinsmiths
Posted by Simon Lewin

At the end of March we'll be returning to Ledbury for an exhibition of originals, prints and textiles hosted by our friends at Tinsmiths.

The exhibition opens on Friday 30th March between 7-9pm and runs until 28th April 2012.

Tinsmiths have commissioned this rather fine set of letterpress printed beermats to mark the occasion. Limited to just 150 sets, 100 are available for purchase online now with proceeds donated to the mental health charity, MIND.

For further information about the exhibition nearer the time, sign up for our e-mail newsletter.

The beermats have been created by (top to bottom) Angie Lewin, Ed Kluz, Emily Sutton and Mark Hearld.

Posted by Simon Lewin on March 10th, 2012

Drawing At The Museum
Posted by Angie Lewin

Choosing just one bird to inspire a print for the recent Ghosts of Gone Birds exhibition from the long list of sadly extinct exotic species was difficult. I chose the Double-banded Argus whose sole relic is a single feather at the Natural History Museum in Tring. It's now thought that this bird may never have existed at all, the unique feather being a mutation of that of a living species of argus.

This, to me, made the feather seem more precious and poignant so on a cold, frosty morning I travelled up from London to the museum to make some preparatory sketches for my wood engraving Drawing at the Museum. As I drew at a desk by the window surrounded by rows of cabinets of preserved birds, I was struck by the contrast with the lively blackbirds hopping from branch to branch in the winter trees in the grounds outside.

Posted by Angie Lewin on February 3rd, 2012

Rob Ryan’s Valentine’s print
Posted by Simon Lewin

We're pleased to announce the availability of Rob Ryan's 2012 Valentine's print.

The text on this two colour screen print reads...

"All of the thoughts that I have held inside me ever since I was very small, silly fancies, grandiose ideas and embarrassing and happy and silly dreams that were always just mine and mine alone.

Could I share with you, and you alone, everything that lives inside my heart and my head that I have never shared with anyone but myself all of the years I have lived so far until now."

Purchase a copy of this limited edition print.

Posted by Simon Lewin on January 29th, 2012

The Curwen Studio
Posted by Angie Lewin

Although most of my prints are linocuts and wood engraving which I draw, cut and print on my own press in the studio, certain images might develop which are better suited to lithography and screen printing.

An example would be Festival Mug (below) which has areas of shading and tone that would be hard to achieve with relief printing methods.

This is one of the prints that I've had the pleasure of working on at The Curwen Studio in Cambridgeshire. Founded in 1958 the studio has now worked with artists including John Piper, Edward Bawden, Graham Sutherland, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Michael Rothenstein and Paula Rego.

Yesterday BBC Radio 4 broadcast a programme about Stanley Jones (master lithographer of the Curwen Studio) that captured the special quality of this highly-regarded print studio.

Artist Susan Aldworth - whilst working on her own prints - interviewed Stanley, revealing his longstanding devotion to lithography and also perfectly describing the inspiring, challenging relationship between artist and skilled printer. It's making me impatient to be back there!

You can listen to the programme over at the BBC Radio 4 website.

Posted by Angie Lewin on January 18th, 2012

Ben Bryden
Posted by Simon Lewin

Now living in New York, saxophonist and composer Ben Bryden is back in Scotland for an appearance in Edinburgh on Saturday night.

Ben has collaborated with poet Rab Wilson on 1957 Flying Scot, a book and CD set celebrating Glasgow's great heritage of building high quality racing and touring bicycles. The eponymous marque was once the dream and aspiration of many working class boys in Scotland. They were incredibly expensive, exotic and desirable objects in their day.

Rab's sonnets feature both in the book and read on one of the CDs. The second CD features music inspired by the work, composed and performed by Ben.

The book and CD set is illustrated throughout by Hugh Bryden and published by his Roncadora Press.

On Saturday 7th January 2012, Rab and Ben will launch the edition from 7pm at Ronde Cycle Café, 66-68 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5AZ.

Whilst in New York, Ben also collaborates with fellow tenor saxophonist Steven Delannoye on the Bright Noise project.

An EP of new material has just been released, with an illustrated sleeve by our mutual friend Jonny Hannah. Full details via Ben's website.

Posted by Simon Lewin on January 6th, 2012

At the first fall of snow
Posted by Simon Lewin

We're up on Speyside at the minute and had our first snowfall of the year last night.

Here's a snap of our view of Ben Rinnes, shrouded in cloud.

It seemed appropriate to also post Jonny Hannah and Mark Hearld's collaborative poster for their exhibition with us back in 2007.

Posted by Simon Lewin on December 4th, 2011

Emily Sutton
Posted by Simon Lewin

We head back south to Edinburgh on Friday for the opening of Emily Sutton's "People and Places" exhibition at The Scottish Gallery. Below are a few of our favourite images (we're now the proud owners of the first).

Mark Hearld has written a few words about the show which includes work based both in the UK and from trips to Europe...

"This collection of work sees Emily taking an up-close look at the high street in Italy and Portugal – a hat shop in Siena, a pair of stone lions in Lucca, a glove shop in Lisbon. Emily’s fascination with the visual particularity of each shop window or scene comes to life in a series of ink and watercolour drawings. Hand-lettered signage, architectural details, characters going about their daily lives are seen with a keen eye and expressed with a deft hand."

The exhibition runs at The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh EH3 6HZ until 24th December 2011.

And all being well, you'll get a chance to see Deep Sea, our latest fabric by Emily - the follow up to her award winning Curiosity Shop.

Posted by Simon Lewin on November 30th, 2011

Mark Hearld & Emily Sutton in Harrogate
Posted by Simon Lewin

A new exhibition opened earlier today in Harrogate, featuring the work of Mark Hearld and Emily Sutton.

The show features paintings, collages, prints, ceramics and other objects.

Below are a few of our favourite pieces from the exhibition which runs until 20th November 2011 at Godfrey and Watt in Harrogate.

Mark and Emily will join Angie in our next St. Jude's in the City exhibition in London in May 2012.

And Angie will be exhibiting at Godfrey and Watt during 2012. Sign up for Angie's e-mail newsletter if you'd like details nearer the time.

Mark Hearld "Autumn Partridges"

Mark Hearld "Pescheria, Venezia"

Emily Sutton "Still Life with Three Birds"

Emily Sutton "Ralph Yates and Sons"

Posted by Simon Lewin on November 12th, 2011

The Mind’s Eye
Posted by Simon Lewin

If you're anywhere near York before Saturday 19th November do call in at this temporary art gallery and exhibition at 8 Bootham.

Curated by Lotte Inch, The Mind's Eye features work by both York and London based artists. The exhibition features prints, jewellery, stationery and other handmade items. 

And you'll find St. Jude's cushion covers designed by Mark Hearld, Emily Sutton and Angie Lewin.

The exhibition runs until Saturday 19th November 2011 at 8 Bootham, York YO30 7BL.

Posted by Simon Lewin on November 7th, 2011

Spektrum Print Collective
Posted by Simon Lewin

'Northern Soul' by Alfons Bytautas (below) is one of the prints that will be included at First Press, the inaugural exhibition of works by members of the speKtrum print collective.

With exhibiting artists including Gill Tyson, David Faithfull, Kelly Stewart, Norman McBeath and Chris Sleath, this will be a new showcase for innovative printmakers.

And 50% of the exhibition profits will be donated to Waverley Care - one of Scotland’s leading HIV and Hepatitis C support networks.

The exhibition will be held at the Whitespace Gallery in Gayfield Square, Edinburgh. It opens on the 26th of November and runs until the 15th of December 2011.

Posted by Simon Lewin on November 7th, 2011