20:20 Print Exchange 2020

I love taking part in the 20:20 Print Exchange! It's that sense of community amongst printmakers in the UK and, increasingly, around the world. And the random nature of the selection you will receive - all sorts of techniques and images, some you love, some less so. And the exhibition goes on tour - for ages.

Of course, this year has been more challenging, so well done to Hot Bed Press for even managing to do the sort! I'm looking forward to receiving my box, in exchange for the edition of 25 'Towneley Hall' linocut prints I submitted. I decided on a new colour way of my 2-plate 'That Window' linocut - this time in copper and blue, specially for this year's print exchange. 

'Towneley Hall', my 20:20 linocut for 2020

Preparing the edition - colour 1

To learn more about my work, please check out my website www.carolynmurphy.co.uk where you'll find my gallery, online shop and links to my social media.

'That Window' at Towneley Hall

Printmakers from Alan Birch's Prospect Studio workshops were asked to create new work inspired by Towneley Hall in Burnley an exhibition called 'Impressions: A Printmaking Response to Towneley'.

The exhibition was due to open in April 2020, however the opening was delayed, like so many things in 2020, owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

The journey began for me in January 2020, when I visited Towneley Hall for the first time. It's set in stunning parklands and, even on a bitterly cold January day, the gardens were busy with local families out for a stroll. This window, in particular, caused much amusement with local children - and caught my interest as a result.

Towneley Hall in Burnley

The window - from inside

The window from outside at Towneley

Back at Prospect Studio, I worked up the image into a 2 plate linocut, which after a number of trials, I decided to print in gold and green.

This became my 'cheeky' submission to the 'Impressions' exhibition. 

'That Window' an original linocut by Carolyn Murphy

I visited the exhibition in September 2020 and loved the quality and quirkiness of the work from all the Prospect Printmakers who took part. I had the chance to view the exhibition in the next gallery, which included local watercolours by Turner. It was a fantastic day out, between phases of Covid-19 lockdown - and fantastic to see the exhibition and Hall so well supported by the whole community.

To learn more about my work, please check out my website www.carolynmurphy.co.uk where you'll find my gallery, online shop and links to my social media.