AN exhibition of recent printmaking is being held at The Gallery at The Art Shop in Hawksworth Street, Ilkley during October.

Prints 2020 features the work of Brian Hindmarch who is exhibiting his ‘Weston Series’ prints and the work of Mike Smith, who has a very respected reputation for his printmaking, specifically natural history.

Brian Hindmarch, artist, printmaker, designer and teacher, has a studio in Ilkley and was a lecturer in Graphic Design at Bradford College, School of Art, for over 20 years, from 1992-2013.

He applies a wide range of graphic design techniques and processes, including photography, etching, letterpress, lithography, screenprint and relief print, and he has a particular interest in interpreting natural history, environment and landscape in his work, which includes original mixed media artwork and limited edition prints.

Talking about ‘The Weston Series’ Brian said: “This series of prints have been made in response to a location about two miles west of Otley. Weston Hall is a grade 1 listed building near the banks of the River Wharfe and close by to All Saints Church, Weston. It has a surrounding park and ponds. There is also a Tudor Banqueting House recognised to be one of the best preserved in the country. Each of these studies is an attempt to capture both representational and interpretive image of this special place. These examples from the series are made by using the intaglio process of drypoint.”

Mike Smith is an Addingham based printmaker working mainly through the medium of reduction lino printing.

He said: “I enjoy the essentially ‘primitive’ character, craft skill and historical continuity bound up in the process of block printmaking; the intellectual and technical exercise of manipulating the original image to exploit the potential of the medium - and its serendipitous nature.

“By limiting the editions of my work I allow myself time to experiment within the process itself, sometimes on a print by print basis adding to their individual nature.

“My work, based on my own drawing and photography, covers a range of subjects. The underlying theme is, however, that of attempting to capture and make a subjective response to special instances of location and time.

“In the momentary coming together of disparate elements and perspectives, I try to create visual narratives that have, in themselves, small significance - but remain essential parts of a reflection of a complete and uniquely personal aesthetic experience.”

Prints 2020 opened at The Gallery at the Arts Shop, South Hawksworth Street, Ilkley, LS29 9DU on Monday, October 5 and runs until Saturday, October 31. It can be viewed from 9.30am to 5pm every day expect Sunday. Only two people allowed in at one time. For enquiries visit www.theartshops.co.uk or call 01943 609031.