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.

Printing press photo

Here is a first glimpse of my new printing press.

Printing Press

Yesterday, I made a big decision which should benefit this printmaking project. I decided to order a brand new A3 printing press. I’ll be printing in my Jim Jams soon. Pictures to follow… (of the printing press)

Researching the castle

A few weeks ago, I did some research on the history of Stockport castle to aid me in producing a print.

I found out that Stockport was originally called ‘Stokeport’, which roughly means ‘Stock’ (Stockdale – so called from Old English stocc ‘tree trunk’ + dæl ‘valley’. ) and ‘port’ (Wood)

Stockport castle means “A castle in the wood”. The son of King Henry II, local landlord ‘Geoffrey de Constentin’ held the fortification against the king in 1173 during the ‘barons rebellion’.

The Norman wooden fort was replaced by a stone construction in the early 13th century. Apparently, Halton castle was built in the same style as Stockport castle.

The castle no longer exists and was demolished in 1775. Few plans or images of the castle are available so a bit of artistic license may be required to reproduce an etching.

I have created a few drawings of what I think the castle may have looked like. More posts to follow…

Prints produced so far…

So far in this project, the following subjects have been printed as etching aquatints.

War Memorial and Art Gallery
‘The Cage’ at Lyme Park
Bramall Hall
Chadkirk Chapel
Macclesfield Canal
Viaduct and Bus Terminal *
The Pyramid
Hatworks museum
Town Hall *%
The Market
Portwood Cooling Tower
The Armoury (Greek Street)

Key:
* – Cyanotype print produced only
*% – Cyanotype and Etching produced

The Armoury print

Stockport Armoury (c) Neil Robinson 2014

Here is a print of ‘The Armoury’ building in Stockport which I created as an etching aquatint earlier this month.

‘The Armoury’ etching (Well, almost)

Today, I resumed my printmaking activities with a new print entitled ‘The Armoury’ which depicts the Grade II listed building at the end of Greek Street. I will upload a photo of today’s print in my next post as soon as it has dried!

Christmas Art & Craft Festivals 2014

I have a number of limited edition prints and cards in the following events this December.

Chorlton Arts Festival/Christmas Art & Craft Fair, St. Clements Church, Edge Lane, Chorlton, Manchester – 6/12/14 – 11am – 4.30pm

Christmas Art Market 2014, The Boo, Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire – 13-14/12/14 – 12.30 – 5.00pm

Open Exhibition

I have successful entered two of my Stockport themed etching aquatints into the 2014 Macclesfield Open. The two limited edition prints are; ‘Stockport Town Hall’ and ‘Stockport Market’. The exhibition is on between 8/11/14 to 3/1/15. For more information, go to: http://goo.gl/RV0jHd

Portwood Cooling Tower print

Yesterday, I completed the Portwood Cooling Tower etching. This is the first of a series of four prints on the subject of Stockport’s historical past.

Sold a print

I had a good day at the print fair on Saturday. It was nice to see familiar faces at the event. I managed to sell a Gum Arabic print of a Panda. It was also nice to see the poster I designed on display at the fair.

I am now looking forward to the Macclesfield Open this November.