Author name: ruth_ander

Spike Open, the popular open studios weekend at Spike Island will be between 3rd and 6th May.  Spike Print Studio will be taking part and I hope to have some images on display showcasing the new work I’ve been making there- mainly etching and photo-etching.  It’s a great chance to see what goes on behind […]

North Somerset Arts Week is almost upon us!  3rd-12th May. If you love finding hidden gems in lovely places then take a day, a weekend or the whole week to tour North Somerset in search of great art.  I’ll be exhibiting with friend and fellow Estuary artist Ian Price at his house, 12 Glenwood Rise,

I’m just back from a wonderful short group residency at Lizard Point in Cornwall (literally- the end of the garden was the end of the land!) The idea was that the residency would form part of the commemoration of 2 communication landmarks- 450 years since the Lighthouse was built at the Lizard and 50 years

I’ve taken on a mini-residency at Black Nore Lighthouse, on the Severn Estuary coast in Portishead, ahead of North Somerset Arts Week, when I’ll be exhibiting my work at 12 Glenwood Rise, just behind the lighthouse.  Though relatively small in stature, it makes up for it in picturesque position and has been saved and maintained

I’ve started making prints based on the walled gardens at the National Trust’s Tyntesfield, just outside Bristol.  I’m in the playing around stages at the moment, but coming up with a few good images.  I’m using photo-polymer etching plates at the moment and adding mono-print, but I hope to make some cyanotypes as well.

I’ve been making the most of my time as a ‘born-again’ Spike Print Studio member.  Despite trepidation at making such a large (A2) photo-polymer print, I’m really enjoying it.  This image is created by painting onto mark resist (see through plastic), and then photographically transferring it onto a metal plate that can be printed from. 

I’ve been learning how to make cyanotypes and gum bichromate prints with Martyn Grimmer at the Folk House in Bristol and really enjoying it.  They are Victorian photographic processes – pretty labour intensive, but worth it.  Very excited to start experimenting now!

As has become tradition for 105 Oxford Street, I made an installation for the stairwell for the weekend of the Totterdown Arts Trail.  This time based on Purton Boat Graveyard, further up the Severn Estuary.  It was all made with mono-print on tissue paper.  Thanks for all who made it along on the weekend.

Lots of lovely new work to see at these two galleries in Congresbury and Perry Row, Bristol.  Go see!

I’ll be at 105 Oxford Street again this year with Jean Hathaway and Andrew Hardwick.  A lovely, small trail, full of curiosities and fun- not least red autumn leaves on the floor of our house!  Expect new large scale hangings in the stairwell, plus new etchings and photo-etchings made at Spike Print Studio. For map,