Macclesfield Open 2021

I currently have 3 prints in this year’s Macclesfield Open which is an online exhibition supporting the East Cheshire Hospice. The exhibition is on until 31st October 2021. Please check out: http://www.maccopen.org.uk/maccopen/Home.html

Pyramid print

This is an etching aquatint print I created early on in the project which I seem to have not shared before in this blog.

I used a combination of printing inks with black ink printed first, then leaving the remaining black ink on the plate, I then inked up blue ink and printed again to get the desired effect of deep dark shadows and lines with the black ink and light highlighted areas with blue ink.

Arden Arms print

Today, I started a brand new etching aquatint print depicting the Arden Arms pub inspired by a pen sketch. This image shows the first proof print.

‘Arden Arms’, etching aquatint print by Neil Robinson

Virtual art gallery tour

I recently received a link to a virtual tour of the Impressions: a response to Towneley exhibition which is currently closed due to the UK national lockdown. Two of my prints, one depicting one of my Stockport related etching prints is currently in the show.

Source: Towneley Hall, Burnley Lancashire.

Link here to virtual tour: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=3E21TgaRyCY&back=1&fbclid=IwAR26WcmIhVYVeVy4UMh24HEQ_eAexRaY3UrEOKsTyPRqhJb2dW7N6AIMqUM

Towneley Hall printmaking exhibition

I am delighted to have a selection of my prints in the current exhibition- “Impressions: a printmaking response to Towneley” at Towneley Hall in Burnley, Lancashire. Exhibition is on from 19th September 2020 until 19th January 2021. Please book before you visit, link below.

Impressions: A printmaking Response to Towneley

Returning to the studio

Social distancing screens installed in the studio

On Sunday I attended a printmaking workshop for the first time in over three months since the lock down began on 23rd March in the UK. My printmaking friend Alan Birch organises weekly workshops for individuals and school groups. Times have been tough for the creative industry during lockdown and my friend has had to install measures such as screens dividing work areas, the use of hand santisers and the 2 metre social distancing rule. During my time away from attending studio workshops, I continued printing at home using my own portable press and hand printing Linos using my handmade printing jig. You can see the results of my efforts in previous posts.

Since my last visit, I have completed a new etching for the forthcoming Towneley Hall exhibition which will open in August (see image above). The print is titled “The secret doorway”.

My latest etching features the river Mersey taken from one of my archive photographs. I hope to complete the print on my next visit to Prospect studios.

Macclesfield Open 2020

Two of my etchings from the printmaking project are now on display on the Macclesfield Open online art exhibition 2020.

http://www.maccopen.org.uk/maccopen/Home.html

Bus etching

I have been busy working from home during the lockdown as I my day job is as a Software Analyst. Today was my birthday so I decided to get my portable press out and do some printing.

Last month, I managed to complete all the aquatint tones on my print depicting the 192 bus. I usually attend a monthly printmaking workshop organised by my friend Alan Birch at his studio in the Rossendale valley. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, I have not been able to visit my friend in over a month due to lockdown restrictions, so consequently my bus etching was never printed until now. I am hoping to create some more prints in the coming weeks on other subjects related to my printing project. Look out for further updates! Bye for now.

Manchester Open 2020

I attended the first ever Manchester Open Art Exhibition held at HOMEmcr on Friday 17th. The preview was well attended and I received a certificate and badge from the event. Two of my recent etching prints from my Stockport In Print series are in the exhibition.

Exhibition time

I attended the 99th Stockport Art Guild Art Exhibition. The Guild is celebrating its centenary this year and has published a book celebrating the history of the art club. Exhibition runs until 16th January 2020.

I have two etching prints in the exhibition which depict the precinct and the railway station. I also have two artworks accepted into the Manchester Open which is in the new year.