New 20:20

This year's 20:20 print swap and exhibition is going to be bigger than ever. Hot Bed Press has confirmed 500 artists from 40 print workshops will be taking part in 2013. The deadline for getting prints in is here and print sorting, a massive job, will be taking place this week, before the exhibition opens at Hot Bed Press in Salford (and online) on 30 November.

Below is my design - the first time I've put in a screen print, instead of a lino cut. I've really enjoyed the challenge. It's called 'Near Ragusa' and is a 4 colour screen print on 300g Canaletto off-white paper. I'm looking forward to getting my box of 20 swap prints. It's great to be part of such a big printmaking 'family'!

Stockport Open Contemporary Images

Today I visited Stockport Art Gallery - perfect for a rainy Sunday! I've included some pictures of my own work and also some of my favourite pieces below...well the ones I could take pictures of, as this can be tricky with the lighting and reflections of natural light. Enjoy!

'Bridgewater Canal' etching & aquatint

'Hideaway' original 3 colour lino cut (centre top)

The lino cut below is by Kevin Holdaway, winner of the SKarts Award with another lino print. This one attracted me because of the unusual approach and fascinating cut marks. 

Below is another favourite - a close up of a watercolour by David Evans, called 'Lifting Clouds':

And finally an oil painting by one of the judges this year, Rob Miller:

Stockport Open Contemporary is OPEN!

The Stockport Open Contemporary Exhibition is in its third year and runs until Sunday 31 August 2013. I have 2 works in again this year - an etching 'Bridgewater Canal' on the ground floor gallery and a 3 colour lino print 'Hideaway' in the upstairs gallery.

It's a lovely, varied exhibition, primarily featuring artists from across the North West - admission is free and most work is for sale. Come along and have a look!

I'll be adding photos shortly. It's great to see the SKarts Award go to printmaker Kevin Holdaway's work 'Athenian rooftops with Lykavittos' which was one of my own favourites.

Lasting Impressions: Contemporary Printmaking

A belated thank you to An Talla Solais in Ullapool, Scotland, for celebrating the art of contemporary printmaking, by showcasing work produced by artists from two institutions: the Highland Print Studio, in Inverness, and Hot Bed Press, in Salford, Greater Manchester.

The exhibition which ran during March and April this year was a great success and hailed as "eclectic and enthralling" by Mandy Haggith, who writes for Northings on the web, covering Arts and Culture in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Her is the link to the gallery website for the Lasting Impressions exhibition.

Thank you to Mandy for the mention of many of the linoprints I had in the exhibition, especially ones with a Scottish connection, like Morlich and the Scottish Sheep. I'm delighted that the Scottish Sheep has found a permanent home in the area!

'Scottish Sheep' by Carolyn Murphy, now residing near Ullapool

Didsbury Arts Festival 2013

Didsbury Arts Festival in Manchester is coming up soon - having moved to earlier in the year. It starts on Saturday 22 June and runs until Sunday 30 June. I took part last year and really enjoyed it. If you are in the area it is well worth getting involved or going along to.

Unfortunately I'll be away on holiday for some of the Festival this year, so will just have to enjoy the bits I'm here for and take part in 2014.

Here's a link to all the details: Didsbury Arts Festival 2013.