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.

Hideaway - My 20:20 print 2012

My own 20:20 print, Hideaway, is a 3 colour multi-plate linocut design, based on a sketch I made of a small seaside cottage in Cwm-yr-Eglwys on the north Pembrokeshire coast, near Fishguard.

20:20 Print Exchange is launched!

On Friday (23 November 2012) Hot Bed Press in Salford launched its biggest 20:20 Print Exchange yet! Well done to Sean and all the helpers, who sorted prints from 30 print workshops across UK and Ireland. 392 printmakers in total produced prints for the collection.

Each artist has now received their own box of 20 random prints. I picked mine up on Friday night and am delighted with the mix. Some of my particular favourites from my own box were these lovely prints:

They are (in order) by: Jenny Lines of Oxford Printmakers, Emily Rae Manning of Stew Print Rooms and Peter Kirley of Fife Dunfermline Print Workshop. Copyright is with the artist.

To see the full set of 392 prints, arranged by print workshop:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hot_bed_press/sets/

Hours of happy viewing!!

Full details at:
http://www.hotbedpress.org/

Manchester Christmas Markets 2012

The Manchester Christmas markets have just opened and - for the first weekend only - as a group of printmakers, with links to Prospect Studios, we have a stall in the centre of Manchester at Exchange Square. It's where the big wheel used to be, right opposite the Next store, so not too hard to find.

There's work from 10 or more local printmakers on show and for sale - original etchings, linocuts, aquatints... I had a great day yesterday on the stall in the afternoon with Jill Randall. We had a lot of interest and some sales - of prints and cards. It was a good chance to have a chat to people and get feedback. Fortunately it wasn't too cold - and it was close to the food and gluhwein stalls! Thanks to everyone who came along! It's continuing through until around 7pm tonight. Well done to Alan Birch for all the organising!

Save Stockport Art Gallery!

Stockport Council is planning to close Stockport Art Gallery & War Memorial during the week, instead they propose to open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons only. The council will also end temporary and community exhibitions at Stockport Art Gallery & War Memorial, which it has done since opening in 1925.

SKarts have revitalised the Stockport Open Contemporary exhibition in the last few years - and fear that this will be the death of the gallery because there will be nothing to draw the public to it. It is also an issue of great regional importance because Stockport Art Gallery & War Memorial is one of the few public galleries in the region where emergent artists can exhibit their work. As someone who has benefited from the chance to exhibit, I would love to see Stockport Council review this plan and support local art and artisits.

20:20 Print Exchange preparations

It's a fantastic relief to know that I my edition of 25 linocut prints for this year's 20:20 Print Exchange are completed and drying happily. I chose to make life a little more challenging - so this year my design is in 3 colours - on 3 plates.

I've included below a test print in a different colourway - and some views of the earlier stages. The print is called 'Hideaway' and is based on a sketch I made of a small cottage by the sea on the North Pembrokeshire coast. I hope you like it!

Stage 1 and 2 are shown below:

The Open Contemporary is now OPEN!

The Open Contemporary art exhibition 2012 at Stockport Art Gallery opened to the public today. I had a peaceful and enjoyable look round today. And couldn't help buying a couple of pieces of work - a beautiful oak bowl by Paul Jones and a small oil painting of Styal Country park by Stephen Jones.

Yesterday's Preview Night was packed out, the band was playing and awards were presented early in the evening. This year the exhibition spreads over both levels - which is a real improvement - and it feels like there's a lot of work there. You get an idea of the exhibition from the photos below. I hope you get the chance to come along!