Author: stockportinprint

I specialize in printmaking especially etching aquatint and my other passion is painting seascapes and landscapes in acrylics. I am also interested in photography and experimenting with digital art. As a starting point, I use a mixture of sketches and photography to create prints and paintings. The artwork and design featured on this web site originates from my school, college and university days and also more recent work that I have created from regular printmaking workshops and art holidays. I regularly exhibit my art in the annual Stockport Art Guild exhibition of which I am a member.

Reddish Vale prints

A montage of Gum Arabic prints of Reddish Vale park.

Yesterday, I produced a small set of paper lithographs using the Gum Arabic printing process. I decided to experiment with colour and inks. I love the finished results and hope to continue working on other subjects using the same method.

Lowry in Stockport

Yesterday, I was working on one of my last prints for this year which was my long awaited Lowry print. As you can see from the photos, after I had burnt on the aquatint resin, I then stopped out areas of the plate using a circuit board pen which is great for small detail. Applying stop out prevents certain areas from being etched by the acid (usually areas to leave white). I then repeat the acid bath process over a number of times know as “bites”. Depending on the time the plate is bathed in the acid and the strength of the solution to water, you get various tonal affects. Lighter tones usually only take a few seconds; darker tones take longer.


“Lowry in Stockport” (Etching aquatint print) 25 x 11 cms – printed on Fabriano paper.