Some Day My Prints Will Come

Bradford's Trapezium Gallery is pleased to present Some Day My Prints Will Come, an exhibition by three Bradford printmakers: Ruth Fettis, Annie Fforde and Patrick Whitehead.

Ruth, Annie and Patrick are printmakers working in diverse ways with different approaches, styles, and processes, but they share a passion and enthusiasm for printmaking and a strong desire to share this with the wider community in the Bradford District. This unique exhibition of original prints includes works in linocut (relief); etching, drypoint, aquatint, monotype (intaglio); and woodcut.

Ruth Fettis came to live in Bradford in 1987 from Newcastle Upon Tyne and in 1997 completed an MA in printmaking at Bradford College. She now works with adults & families making art. She enjoys collaborating with other artists and is a member of Inkers, a group of professional printmakers who hold exhibitions in West Yorkshire.

Ruth uses the old traditional craft of lino & woodcut printing to tell modern day stories. She creates large, narrative and figurative prints that are bold and convey a powerful message. She is influenced and motivated by social issues and events from within the local community and beyond.

Ruth explains her process: “I chose to use the medium of linocut because it’s one of the cheapest forms of printmaking. The lino I use for carving out the image is called ‘marmoleum’, which is bio-degradable and donated from local carpet shops who would otherwise send their off-cuts to the tip.  All you need to start are a couple of sharp gouges/tools, some ink, paper, lino & a wooden spoon. Linocut is an extension of drawing and has a long tradition and history of protest. Artists such as Kathe Kollwitz, Elizabeth Catlett, Azariah Mbatha & John Muafangejo have inspired me.”

Annie Fforde has recently returned from living and working in France and is also a member of 'Inkers'. She currently runs printmaking workshops at the South Square Centre in Thornton.

Many of her prints on display are woodcuts combined with monotype, drypoints with monotype or etchings. The exhibition also includes several Artists' Books, based on poetry and pieces of music.

She describes her inspiration: "I have an abstract approach to art often combining two or more printmaking processes. I create the image using line, texture and layering colour. It is my emotional response to abstract ideas or concepts; music, poetry, landscape and objects in collections.  My use of colour is sometimes heightened depending on the mood of the imagined landscape and subject matter." 

Patrick Whitehead was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1957. He trained at Lincoln College of Art and Norwich School of Art where he studied Fine Art Printmaking. He now owns and manages The Apothecary Gallery in Thornton village.

He explains the process behind his work: “My early work incorporated the traditional etching processes of etching, drypoint, aquatint and mezzotint. I am fascinated by all the intaglio processes and, especially, the newer methods, which include collagraphs and solar etching. The intaglio prints in this exhibition are solar etchings and drypoints, which include the use of a Dremel engraver and different grades of corborundum grit to create lines, marks and different tones and textures.”

He continues: “A large part of my work is inspired by my travels overseas and a love of different cultures; and the subject matter ranges from architecture and crowds to everyday scenes. I am interested in capturing a particular moment in time and through the effect of light and dark, I aim to create a timeless quality to my work.”

Some Day My Prints Will Come is at Trapezium Gallery on Kirkgate in Bradford city centre, opposite McDonald's, from Saturday 18th May until Saturday 8^th June 2024. Opening times are Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 11am – 3pm.  There will be refreshments and a chance to meet the artists at the launch event on Friday 17^th May 6-8pm.

Image by Patrick Whitehead

For more information see https://trapeziumarts.com/ or contact: art@trapeziumarts.com