Welcome to Black Peppercorn Art, where each artwork is hand crafted and limited edition.
Defining what I do
Limited Edition Prints
Each print is hand-crafted in a small, signed limited edition. As the reduction printing method is used, once the artwork is carved into and printed, it cannot be used to make another run. The only way to revisit a subject is to start from scratch and create a new print.
Inspiration
Drawing inspiration from seascapes, vast landscapes and the vibrant energy of cities, my prints capture the mood of each place visited by blending and layering colours to create visually stunning artworks.
Meet the Printmaker
I am a self‑taught printmaker specialising in reduction lino printing, creating each piece entirely by hand. I work primarily with Japanese vinyl lino and traditional hessian‑backed lino. I take direct inspiration for my work from my photographs.
I am both intrigued by vast natural landscapes to urban cities scenes. I am drawn to the contrast between dramatic vistas and every day city settings. My aim is to capture an honest portrayal of what I see, I want the viewer to be taken away and imagine themselves in one of my scenes.
I am fascinated by the process of drawing, carving, inking, then printing to build up and create my art. It is an intricate process which takes time and precision to make sure that each layer lines up perfectly with the one beneath it. While the process carries an element of risk, I find it meditative and deeply satisfying when a print is complete.
The start
I work directly from my photographs. I use sketchbooks to make initial drawings, but I primarily draw directly onto the lino. I use 2 types of lino, the traditional hessian backed and Japanese double sided vinyl, but I mainly use the Japanese vinyl as I like how easy it is to carve into when I am creating the layers.
My drawings tend to be loose, where I focus on outlining the key areas and making sure the dimensions are correct.
Printing
I use a combination of oil and water based oil relief inks. Once I have carved the layer to be printed I'll mix up my paint and start printing the areas I want the ink to appear. I usually print one colour at a time, but sometimes I can print 2 or occasionally 3.
I find this stage really exciting, but it can be complicated as I' having to visualise how the ink will look on paper and how the colours could interact with each other. This is where having a proof print is important as I make decision from this print moving forward.
Carving into the lino
I use my carving tools like a pen to create the lines and detail I want. It can be a slow process or angst inducing if you carve the wrong section (you just have to embrace the mistakes and incorporate them into your design), but I find it meditative and really enjoy this process of slowly creating and revealing a scene layer by layer.
The layers
I have to distil all the colours I see in my photographs into several layers. This process involves thoughtful decision making on what details are important to me and what I can allude to in my work.
I frequently refer to my photographs to ensure the colours are as accurate as possible, allowing me to achieve a sense of realism in my work.
The middle stages
This is where I can see how the colours play with each other and how the layers are building up to create a scene. I can see my work coming together, but it's still at a stage where I can feel unsure if it will turn out how I visualised it in my mind.
Final piece
After all the hours spent carving, colour mixing, printing and repeat, you get the final result. This is what I work for, a piece of art I am proud of and one which I hope will hold the viewers gaze.
Contact
For Commissions and Inquiries
