South West Scotland Printmakers (SWSP) Launch with Exhibition at Gracefield Arts Centre

A newly formed group promoting the work of some of the leading original printmakers from Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire is being launched with a Christmas exhibition in Dumfries.

 

A wide range of work by over 20 members of South West Scotland Printmakers (SWSP) will be on show in a free exhibition in Gallery 2 at Gracefield Arts Centre, Edinburgh Road, Dumfries, which opened this weekend and will run into the new year.

 

Visitors will be able to see and buy work from artists such as Sarah Keast from Moniaive, Colin Blanchard from near Lockerbie, Sarah Stewart from Wigtown, and Pamela Grace from Kirkpatrick Durham and Emma Varley from Dumfries.

 

Sarah Keast and Pamela Grace take very different approaches to landscape. Colin, a former lecturer in both printmaking and wildlife management, is well-known for creating work that celebrates birds and animals. Emma explores the use of colour in her abstract prints, while Sarah Stewart works with a wide variety graphic imagery and found objects.

 

Much printmaking uses traditional processes like etching on metal plates or carving blocks of lino or wood. Others use more modern processes like screen print or collagraph and some work with a combination of different hand printing techniques to produce images that have unique and exciting qualities.

 

Although original prints are often made in limited editions, each is individually created by the artist, requiring specialist skills and equipment. This means they can be an affordable way to have original and unusual artworks in your own home.

Printmaking is a highly skilled and distinctive artform that Gracefield is delighted to raise awareness of through the exhibition.