a great big....

THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me in 2017!

That is....people who have commissioned me to produce artwork, people who have bought my prints, organisations who have chosen me to be part of their events, people who have come to my workshops, people who have simply emailed me to say they like my work, people who have supported my slightly niche projects(!) and just anyone who has shown an interest in what I do. I never take interest in my work for granted, and I feel very lucky indeed to be able to make a living from being an artist.

Special thanks to Paul at Sonido Polifonico records, for releasing my 'Donkey Jukebox' album, and helping me realise a dream in such a fun way, and to the animation people at Finger Industries for bringing my donkey images to life.

Lastly, thanks to Ben Partridge (of The Owlery) for helping me get around to events all over the place. It is hugely appreciated!

It has been a weird old year, with a lot of political and social upheaval, so here's to a better 2018, eh?!

(The pic above is from the current Kay Mellor TV series, 'Love, Lies and Records'  on BBC1. A couple of my prints feature in the main character's house, including this, my print of 'The Hepworth Wakefield'!)

Donkey films, music, cats, badges and a new Sheffield view

Hi there

Well November is upon us, and it is well and truly ALL GO!

This month I have a load of new events to tell you about, two new prints, a new badge, a new album and film(!) and a new exhibition too!

NEW ALBUM, FILM AND LAUNCH

Some of you may know that as well as an artist I'm also a musician. On 10th November 2017 my two worlds collide when I release a new instrumental solo album entitled 'Donkey Jukebox', on Sonido Polifonico! It is released as a limited vinyl issue (250 copies), with a lathe-cut 7inch (first 100 copies), an exclusive new risograph print (entitled 'Donkey Gathering'), ceramic token and some badges, plus a digital download, and a bandcamp version (phew!). The album is a designed to be a companion to my donkey prints, and you can have a preview at this soundcloud link or listen more fully on the bandcamp page. To make this even more exciting, animation house Finger Industries have made an animated film of my donkey prints to accompany the launch, and you can see/hear a small section of it on YouTube!

The super-limited album package (LP/7inch//risograph/badges and token) is available to pre-order directly from the Sonido Polifonico label. The standard LP/risograph version will be available from good independent record shops, inc Norman Records), plus I will have some copies in my Folksy shop and at upcoming events.

On Tuesday 14th November the premiere of the full-length animated 'Donkey Jukebox' film will be shown, with a live performance of the music by myself and fellow musician Mark Armstrong. This will take place in Sheffield at Regather Works. Tickets are limited, as the venue is not large, but you can tickets here. Support will be from Dean McPhee and Pefkin.

LP cover

'Donkey Gathering' 2-colour risograph print

LP deluxe bundle

NEW PRINTS
I have two new prints available and an enamel badge:

'Otto No.3' two-colour screen-print. Otto is my cat, and the subject of my first ever linocut many years ago. It felt fitting to create an up-to-date portrait of him, now he is a senior citizen!

'Sheffield City View No.8' -  one-colour A3 screen-print and A3 poster print (dark/light blue or orange/grey). My latest Sheffield view is from the city centre looking towards Park Hills flats and the tram bridge over Ponds Forge.

'Terrace' hard enamel pin badge. Previously only available through the pin Drop project, I now have a supply of these in my Folksy shop
















NEW EVENTS

Sheffield Print Fair 2017
Sat 11th November 2017, 10am-4pm, St Mary's Church and Community Centre, Bramall Lane, Sheffield S2 4QZ
Now in its 5th year, printmakers from all over the UK descend on the city for this one day event. 44 artist/printmakers, plus print demos all day and a print raffle too! I'm one of the organisers of SPF and I'm very proud of what we have put together.

Donkey Jukebox launch
Tuesday 14th November 2017, Regather Works, 57-59 Club Garden Road, Sheffield S11 8BU
film/live soundtrack/album launch event - info as above.

Craft. Fair. Contemporary.
Friday 17th-Sunday 19th November 2017, Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Cross, Nottingham NG1 2GB (Fri  6pm-8.30pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm)
My first visit to this event and venue, and I have heard very good reports! Top quality art and craft in a pretty fine venue.

Welbeck Winter Weekend
Friday 24th November  - Sunday 26th November 2017, The Harley Gallery, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 3LL (Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm)
A return to this great event in Worksop, with quality art, craft food and more.

'Print' exhibition
25th October 2017 until April 2018, The Long Gallery, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TH
I'm very proud to announce that I have been asked to curate a new exhibition at the SCH! It features 18 artist/printmakers, all who have had a big impression on me, in one way or another. All of the work is for sale, and there will be a limited edition of each print available (also to buy online). Some of the featured artists include Marko, Peter Knight, Helen Peyton, Neil Woodall and Sarah Du Feu.

Villages, albums, exhibitions and more...

Hi there

October brings a lot of different things to print world, it would seem...

NEW PRINTS
I have a new print available, entitled 'The Donkey Village'. It is a 3-colour A3 size linocut/screen-print. The print is a continuation of my donkey-world theme, this time set in a mysterious village. It is a limited edition of 50 copies, and for sale in my Folksy shop.

WORKSHOPS
I have a new 'Intro To Linocut' workshop date available and ready to book on Sat 13th January 2018. It takes place (as usual) at The Art House in Sheffield city centre. There are 8 places at £40 per place. All materials are provided and no experience needed. Email me on jgprintworks@hotmail.com to book or for more info

NEW EVENTS
Northern Craft
Sat 14th October 2017, 11am-5pm, Northern Monk Brewery, The Old Flax Store, Marshalls Mill, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 9YJ
I'm back at this quality event. Last time, in August, there was all sorts of great stuff, leatherwork, plants, ceramics, prints and some amazing food and beer too!

Manchester Print Fair
Sat 21st and Sun 22nd October 2017, 10am-5pm, Upper Campfield Market, Manchester, Barton St, Manchester M3 4NN
MPF events have been making quite a name for themselves. Always packed and full of innovative contemporary print work. Please note -  I'm going to be there just on the Sunday.


NEW EXHIBITION
'Print' exhibition
25th October until January 2018, The Long Gallery, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TH
I'm very proud to announce that I have been asked to curate a new exhibition at the SCH! It features 18 artist/printmakers, all who have had a big impression on me, in one way or another. All of the work is for sale, and there will be a limited edition of each print available. Some of the featured artists include Marko, Neil Woodall and Sarah Du Feu.

NEW ALBUM

Some of you may know that as well as an artist I'm also a musician. On 14th November 2017 my two worlds collide when I release a new instrumental solo album entitled 'Donkey Jukebox', on Sonido Polifonico on 14th November 2017!. It is released as a limited vinyl issue (250 copies), with a lathe-cut 7inch (first 100), a risograph print, ceramic token and some badges, plus a digital download, and a bandcamp version (phew!). The album is a designed to be a companion to my donkey prints, and you can have a preview at this soundcloud link if you like. I'll post up a link next month when it is available to buy, and I'm also having a launch event on that date in Sheffield at Regather Works if people are interested, including the premiere of an animated version of my donkey prints! Tickets are available from Regather, and are very limited.

LAST PRINTS
Just to let you know, I only have one copy each of 'Sheffield City View No.6' A3 screen-print, and 'Cromer No.2' linocut!

MORE GREETING CARDS
I now have a selection of eighteen different greeting cards, available from my card publishers Green Pebble, including versions of 'Peloton', 'Blue Donkey Regrets The Adventure', 'Fox In The Snow', 'Blackbirds and Thrushes' and more..oh and you can get a notebook with my 'Donkey and Bird' design on the cover too.

Summer is a coming in...

(clumsily paraphrased an old folk song there...ahem)..

Hello there, and welcome to my blog! Here you'll find news of new prints that I've created, events that I'm taking part in and all sorts of other print-related stuff..


NEW PRINTS
(all now available in my Folksy shop)

'Blackbirds and Thrushes' A3 poster-print. This came about partly through my interest in UK garden birds, and partly because of an old folksong of that name (better known as 'Hares On The Mountain') that has been stuck in my head for years.

'Robin Hood's Bay' 2-colour linocut print. As you might know, I'm a bit of a fan of the Yorkshire coast, and this place is pretty special.

'Crow' 2-colour linocut print. Another member of the corvid family, and a mighty one at that.























EVENTS

The Folk Forest
I have two events coming up before the summer holidays begin in earnest. Firstly there is 'The Folk Forest' in Sheffield. This is an event I've been involved with for several years now. I design a new poster for them each year, produce a souvenir 'item' for the event, and also take part in/help with the running of the art and craft fair that happens alongside the music part. 

It is a fantastic event, organised by a co-operative called Regather, as part of Tramlines Festival (the city-wide music festival).

The Folk Forest 2017 takes place in Endcliffe Park in Sheffield on 22nd and 23rd July, from midday until 8pm. The Folk Forest Fair (inc the art and craft market) features a mixture of artists and craftspeople from Sheffield, jewellery, clothing, cosmetics, ceramics and print, of course! the music this year looks ace too. One of my favourite singers, Cate Le Bon is playing!

For this year, instead of a souvenir print, we've decided to produce a tote-bag. There will only be 100 of them, and I'll be selling them on my stall. I don't reckon they'll hang around!

Here is the official FF2017 poster I created, too.

Northern Craft/Pin Drop

The second event I'm taking part in is Northern Craft Summer Fair in Leeds. I've not done this one before, and am very chuffed to have been selected! It takes place on 5th and 6th August 2017 at the Northern Monk Brewery in Holbeck, near the city centre. There is a great selection of contemporary craft and art there. Take a look at their list of makers. It is pretty impressive!

Also as part of this (and on Friday 4th August) I'm taking part in their new exhibition, called 'Pin Drop'. They have commissioned 25 artists to design a brand new enamel pin badge, and they are going to be on display and available to buy there. There will be 100 of each available, and you can see/buy them from 6pm-10pm on that date. I'm not allowed to show you my new design yet, but I'm a little excited about it! 

Stomp

I'm taking part in a new exhibition at the newly opened Long Gallery at Sheffield Children's Hospital, which features work by many of the artists who took part in the 'Herd Of Sheffield' project last year. It opens on 19th July 2017 and runs until October. All of the work is for sale and will also be available to buy from their website.

I See A Creature

I'm very happy to be taking part in a new exhibition at my favourite art gallery in the UK, the Oriel Mostyn in Llandudno, North Wales! It is a group exhibition entitled 'I See A Creature', bringing together printmakers, ceramicists, painters and more to celebrate creatures (also featuring The Lost Fox and Anna-Mercedes Wear). I have several of my creature and donkey prints featured in the show, and it'll apparently be part of the The LLAWN Festival (Llandudno Arts Weekend) too.

It takes place 3rd June to 1st Oct 2017, Oriel Mostyn Art Gallery, 12 Vaughan Street, Llandudno, North Wales, LL30 1AB

Pin Badges, creatures and further donkey adventures..

Hello there

As ever, it has been longer than intended for a blog update.  Sorry about that. Here goes with some news..

NEW WORKS

I've always rather liked badges, back from when I was a teenager and sported those little little pop group ones (mostly The Cure, to be honest!), so I thought why not get some made featuring my work? So, the 'donkey badge' was born. They are nickel/hard enamel badges, made in Huddersfield, Yorkshire and feature one of my donkeys (and a helping hand). This one has rather large ears, so they stick out the top of the badge. i had 100 made, but they've gone like proverbial hot cakes. I do have a few left, mind, and they're in my Folksy shop.






I've also created two new donkey prints, one a new 'Happenings..' print, and the other a solo donkey print based on a little sketch I made.

'Happenings in Donkey World No.4' is an A3 size 3-colour screen-print, showing the further adventures of my intrepid donkeys. They're not exactly sure what is going on, but I reckon they're having a good time! They are hand-printed in a limited edition of 30 copies, by myself at Sheffield Print Club. As usual, available in my Folksy shop.

'Donkey Portrait No.3' does exactly what it says on the tin! I was just sketching with a paint brush recently and was a little taken by this little donkey I'd created, so I decided to turn it into a print. It is an A3 size screen-print, in two versions (dark blue & light blue and brown & grey), both small editions of 15 each, printed by myself at Sheffield Print Club. As usual, available in my Folksy shop.















Exhibition at Oriel Mostyn

I'm more than a little bit excited to have been asked to take part in a new exhibition at one of my favourite galleries in the whole of the UK, being Oriel Mostyn in Llandudno. It is a wonderful gallery (with a great cafe and craft shop), with work by all sorts of interesting contemporary artists from all over the globe.

It is a group exhibition, called 'I See A Creature' bringing together printmakers, ceramicists, painters and more to celebrate, well, creatures! I have several of my animal, bird and donkey prints featured in the show, and it'll apparently be part of the The LLAWN Festival (Llandudno Arts Weekend) too. It'll take place from 3rd June to 1st Oct 2017 at Oriel Mostyn Art Gallery, 12 Vaughan Street, Llandudno, North Wales, LL30 1AB. Well worth a visit!
 

Events

 At the end of this month I'm off to take part in the Saltaire Arts Trail. I love this event. It takes place all over the small historical town of Saltaire in West Yorkshire. I will be in the Makers Fair in the grand Victoria Hall, along with a great load of other artists and craftspeople. The event is on for three days (28th, 29th and 30th May 2017) and there is all sorts of other stuff going on too, craft workshops for kids, music, parades and food/drink. It has a really special atmosphere, and I'm always a bit sad when it ends!

Coming soon...
More badge news, lots more events, workshops and hopefully some more prints!
 

Birds, patterns, beer and Sheffield waterways..

Should I say Happy New Year? Feels a bit weird in February.

Anyway, I hope you're all well, and past the grey cloud that is January. I've been taking advantage of the relative inactivity of that month (and some of Febuary) and have been working on some new prints.

I've also completed a few commissions which I'll show you too.

Lastly, there are some exciting events coming up on February and March to tell you about.

NEW PRINTS

Firstly there is a 'Dove' that I came across last year when I was taking part in an arts festival in Derbyshire. It was just perched on the windowsill of my b&b room, looking somewhat calm and contemplative. I hadn't thought about it at the time, but with all the global strife that is currently happening, maybe a dove is somewhat fitting as a sign of hope.. The print is an edition of 100, han-pressed in my home-studio.


 

The other new print is 'Sheffield City View No.7'. It is a view towards the city centre up the River Don. It is available in two poster-print versions, and a hand-printed screen-print/linocut one. I was drawn to this view as it contains such an interesting mix of buildings old and new, including the Old Town Hall, the current Town Hall, the Cathedral Church of St Marie and Exchange Place.

COMMISSIONS

Abbeydale Brewery
Towards the end of last year, I was asked by design agency Field Design to create some linocuts to rebrand the core range of beers made by Abbeydale Brewery. The brewery is based in Sheffield, and makes some pretty fine ales, so I jumped at the chance. The idea of the rebrand was to modernise the look of them, and make them look cohesive, but also retain an element of tradition. Here are four of the designs:

The designs were launched last month and are being used on the 'pump clips' primarily, but there is also talk of them producing bottled versions soon with the designs on the labels. It was a really fun commission to work on, and Moonshine is one of my favourite beers, too!

Sleepy Nico
I was asked to produce a textile pattern for use on a range of baby-carriers by Angeline Braidwood for her company Sleepy Nico. I have to admit, I have never created a repeat-pattern before, but I have always wanted to so gladly accepted the job! The brief was simply to come up with something 'Sheffield'. I've always thought that terraced houses had a 'pattern' look about them, with all the windows, chimneys and rooftops, so took this as my focus.

It took a bit of tweaking, but I got there in the end and was very happy with the result! The carriers featuring my design will be launched at the Northern Sling Exhibition at beginning of March 2017.


EVENTS
I'm taking part in the following events in Febuary and March 2017:
 
Sheffield City Of Makers Art Fair
Sat 25th Feb 2017, The Art House, 8 Backfields, Sheffield, S1 4HJ, 11am-5pm
A new event, organised by the 'Sheffield City Of Makers' organisation, free entry








The Hepworth Wakefield Print Fair
Fri 3rd Mar - Sun 5th Mar 2017, The Hepworth Wakefield, Gallery Walk, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 5AW, 10am-5pm
Fantastic event this, and my favourite from last year. 50 printmakers, with some wonderful work, plus workshops and talks from people like Angie Lewin, Mark Hearld and Norman Ackroyd! Free entry

Millennium Galleries Craft Market
Sat 18th March 2017, Millennium Galleries, Sheffield, 10am-4pm
Quarterly quality craft fair in Sheffield city centre.