printing

In my studio today - first prints since the referendum - Ash Saplings - new growth and hope

Summer Solstice Strolling

Summer Solstice Strolling and picking at The Yorkshire Arboretum in preparation for forthcoming exhibition there and a longer ongoing project

RHS Harlow Carr Replenishing, Watching, Gathering

After great sales during the first week of the current show at The Bath House Harlow Carr I popped over with new work to replenish my part of the exhibition. This gave me a chance to see the show for the first time which includes fabulous work by Corinne Young, Shirley Vauvelle and Lesley Seeger, all presented beautifully by the Just Makers team at The Bath House. 

I didn't get a chance to walk around the gardens but did enjoy walking in the nearby woods, squirrel watching and gathering fallen rhododendron petals which are sure to pop up in future prints.

Meadow Walking Picking and Printing

I feel so privileged to have been invited to work alongside Tom Lord in his stunningly beautiful meadows at Lower Winskill near Settle in the Yorkshire Dales. The meadows at Lower Winskill are a nationally rare habitat, rich in wild flowers and insects, especially butterflies and bumblebees. The hay meadows are recorded in late sixteenth century documents when they belonged to three smaller farms.

 The day started with Tom walking and talking participants around the meadow. A qualified historian and an acclaimed landscape historian and archaeologist, Tom will described the history of the farm and explain how the different ways of managing the land, affect the plants and animals that live there. He is passionate about the land he farms and finding alternative and sustainable solutions to its management.

The meadows were in their yellow stage before they turn to blues and purples later in the summer and with the later rain showers holding off we were able to see them in their glory. 

After walking and picking I delivered workshop introducing the principal methods of mono printing from nature - everyone worked so hard and with such wonderful source material some beautiful prints were made.

 I came home with rich pickings which I am looking forward to using in a body of work.

Thanks go to France-Leigh Hadrysiak at Chrysalis Arts for organising this NYOS Studios event

Exhibiting

Throughout June I am exhibiting  at The Bath House at RHS Harlow Carr alongside some beautiful work by Corinne Young, Shirley Vauvelle and Lesley Seeger

Stef Mitchell

The Bath House RHS Harlow Carr

Corinne Young

Stef Mitchell

Shirley Vauvelle

Lesley Seeger

Printing

New prints on the eve of the new moon - in September I will be exhibiting at The Gallery at The Ryedale Folk Museum along with a fantastically talented group of printmakers who make up Printmakers Circle. These prints are for the box set of prints that we make as a group print exchange and will be exhibited in the show. Taking the theme of 'Artifact' I have explored a theme currently popping up in my work - the interior language of quilt making. These prints start with templates that make up a square Crazy Patch and using chance use the notion of the Crazy Patch walking.

The exhibition runs 10^th September – 4^th December 2016

Exhibiting

So pleased to be exhibiting in the Liverpool Book Art Exhibition Liverpool Central Library which opens today and continues until to July 31. The brief was for work of a Shakespearean theme. My submission was this piece that is made from two books which have been entwined together from part of a series of work called Entwines. I selected the rose laden with symbolism of youth and love to print from. Based very much on Romeo and Juliet this piece entwines two books, two narratives coming together and encased for ever.