What a year!
This may be oversharing but in what has been an extraordinary year, I’ve found that reading about how other people have faced challenges and coped with them has helped. So I thought I'd reflect on 2020.
In many ways I’ve written this for myself. In the past few years I’ve started scribbling notes, reflecting on the previous year, to prompts such as 'What did I discover' What changes did I face? What did I discover? What would be helpful to leave in 2020? and What would be helpful to carry into 2021? I have a tendency to focus on negatives and need to work a little harder to look at the positives. The exercise helps me do that. Reflecting on the positives, there are indeed many.
I've seen countless messages about wanting to forget 2020. 2020 isn't a year I want to forget about. I’m not going to pretend it’s been easy. I work and live on my own. I connect to people through meeting in person and shared experiences. Having a big part of that cut off has been hard. It's a year where I've had to dig deep to keep going and learn to adapt. Like I imagine we've all had, there have been many highs and lows.
I've learnt many new skills and made new connections. It certainly wasn't dull!
Resilience to change
Previous redundancies have held me in good stead for the pandemic. From the outside it may seem like I’m reacting to the situation and not giving myself time to cope with the change. I’m someone who has huge amounts of enthusiasm at the start of a project and being honest, may not always be as good at finishing. I’ve found using that initial burst of energy works. I’m good at problem solving, so prefer to tap into that to get ideas flowing. Otherwise I’m in danger of slipping into self pity and what’s the point any more. We all have different ways of coping with change. I guess I'm quite resilient and as my mum will say, determined.
Adapting to change
In business, 'pivot' seemed to be the word of the year. Basically, adapting to change. And quickly!
Pre-pandemic my business was made up of several elements: selling original prints, teaching workshops in my studio, graphic design and commercial illustration projects.
Taking those one by one, this is what happened.
Graphic design. This had been one of my main sources of income. I don't often share the projects I'm working on through social media. I’ll be honest, I can charge an hourly or project rate that reflects experience and true time on a project. Printmaking, being a slow handmade process is very very different and hard to do that.
Apart from one small project, graphic design work dried up overnight. My regular clients stopped needing new marketing materials and one sold their business. New clients are usually small startup businesses who need logos and branding designing.
Illustration and commercial linocut commissions. I'd been half way through a project. That's been cancelled. A book I've illustrated with linocut prints is still awaiting being published. I hope to be able to share that as soon as it is.
Linocut workshops. Through February and March I'd taught 10 linocut workshops. This has become a big part of my business and something I very much enjoy. My last workshop was on 16 March. Although I've since created an online course it doesn’t replace in-person teaching, financially or as something I personally prefer to do. I miss that connection and rapor.
Original prints. Now this caught me by surprise. I seriously thought that people would stop buying art and I'd be stuck with all my new prints as fancy loo roll!
It's certainly not easy making a living from art. As I've said above anything handmade takes time and original prints are certainly no exception.
I already had an online shop. Online sales were small but it meant I was already in a good position. I just needed to improve my photography and add all my prints and cards.
Through the kindness of others, regular customers showing their support, word of mouth and my work being shared on social media or through the press, orders came in. And they've continued to do so. In fact in many ways this year has done me a favour. Prior to the pandemic I sold my work through local events and galleries, now my prints have gone off all around the country and even as far as New Zealand!
But my print sales have been what’s kept me afloat and believe me that's one hell of an achievement!
Sense of Purpose
The main thing I needed was a sense of purpose. Something to focus on. A reason to get up, get dressed and get on with the day.
Visors project
My initial reaction to the pandemic was, "What can I do?" That was two fold, I’ve often wished my career and skills were something that helped people and more useful in that way. At the time it also felt like my business was on hold.
PPE was in short supply. Through my contacts I got involved in what became the Covid-19 Visors York project.
Online Course
On week 2 of the lockdown 1, The Design Trust ran a free webinar ‘How to Teach Creative Skills online’. It’s something I’d toyed with but didn't have the time or skills to do so. Wouldn’t it be great to have a passive income? I could make a course and offer support but I would need to be there all of the time.
I can’t say the thought filled me with joy. I much prefer face to face communication. With teaching in particular, there’s a rapor. I can adapt my style and the content to each individual or group. I get a lot of satisfaction from feedback. Indirect mainly. The look on someone’s face when they peel back their first print is priceless. I've had many Keith Brymer Jones teary eyed moments. Teaching online can be quite detached.
At the time it felt like I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t think people would buy my prints. It was my only hope of bringing in an income. What it did do though, was give me a sense of purpose.
I didn’t have the skills I needed. The course was very intense. Weekly live webinars and stacks of homework too up most of my time. I wasn’t earning money from that, which caused a lot of stress. That’s a lot of pressure on one thing.
Learning to film and edit
Financially I needed to film it well and edit it all myself. Skills and equipment I didn't have. Alongside the course I taught myself how to use Adobe Premiere Pro. Although I’m a dab hand at some of the other Adobe packages, this was another language. I struggled no end. Initially I practiced on videos for the Virtual York Open Studios event. Six months down the line the basics are nearly second nature.
Filming and photography was another hurdle. Initially I borrowed a friend's video camera. Videoing myself demonstrating carving techniques is not easy! Talking to the camera when I was exhausted with it all wasn’t easy. The amount of takes it took to get good footage is ridiculous! Come to that, taking high quality self portraits while holding tools for press releases wasn't easy either!
But I did it.
My first online course launched in July 2020. It may have been tough and I can’t say I enjoyed all of it but I’m very proud of the results. Being my own worst critic, I didn’t know how well it would do but I've received lots of positive feedback.
"Brilliant!
I have always wanted to learn how to lino cut but didn’t know where to start. This course has given me all the basic steps to begin but also inspired me with ideas of how to Mark make in order to progress designs. Very clear and concise, I also loved that I can pause the content or slow it down to really study technique. Thank you Michelle."
Learning new skills
I've already spoken about learning to teach online, video editing and improving my filming above.
Navigation course
I’d been meaning to do a navigation course for a while. My internal compass is shocking. I avoid walking on my own for that very reason. I’d rather have company too but this year that wouldn’t always be possible. It was more of a ‘should do’ rather than something I’d wanted to do. Friends were booked onto a two-day navigation course at Kilnsey, Yorkshire Dales with Where2Walk. On finding a reasonably priced room in nearby Grassington, I saw it as a sign and booked onto the course.
Of course, as it turned out, I wasn’t as bad as I thought. Rather unsurprisingly, I lacked confidence. If I stopped to think things through properly, applied logic and the skills I'd learned, rather than getting in a flap, I mostly got it right.
Knitting
I've sewn from an early age. "I hate knitting" is a phrase I’ve often used! My friend Sal knitted me a bobble hat for Christmas last year. I’ve re-taught myself how to knit. Persevering with it and knitting a coordinating cowl over Christmas.
Writing
I've stopped beating myself up about my writing. English was my worst subject at school. I find writing hard and been carrying a chip on my shoulder about being rubbish at it for years.
I have quite a few friends that are professional writers. They’ve encouraged me and helped me realise that my open and honest writing style isn’t so bad. I’ve learnt that I like writing more than I did, very early morning works well and I’ve found it helps me too. We live in a world of information overload, so I suspect not many people read my blogs, newsletters or social media ramblings. If you do, thank you for listening.
Sleep or lack of
The second I close my eyes I’m asleep, until 4am that is. Overthinking and my problem solving brain kicks in and I’m wide awake. Two solutions, write it down and eat a bowl of muesli. There’s been a lot of that. In the beginning, my thoughts were about how to make a living, then learning how to make my online course. Through November it seems editioning prints that were running low on stock where playing on my mind.
Forever plugged in
I’m the sort of person that prefers face to face communication and by choice will pick up the phone rather than emailing. In many ways I prefer the non-digital world. But on the other hand, I realise that I wouldn’t have a successful business without it. This year it’s had many benefits. Community is the main one, which I’ll come to below.
Community
Creative community
The creative community have really pulled together.
Pyramid Gallery in York set up an online exhibition for those affected by the York Open Studio cancellation. York Open Studios is run by volunteers and alongside their own upside down worlds, created an online event.
York Printmakers took our monthly meetings online. In November we gave them more purpose by starting a monthly creative challenge. We create a piece of work to a theme. We share how we made it and our thoughts behind creating. It's given a focus to our meetings, helped us learn more about each other and different printmaking techniques. At last I've found a positive to Zoom!
Online community
I didn’t think there would be a silver cloud to this. Listening to a podcast last week I understood more about a big one.
Pre-pandemic, I either sold my prints through art events or galleries. I sold a few online. With events cancelled and galleries forced to close, people looked online.
I’ve always shared how I make my linocut prints online. In a way it’s my own personal diary. It helps me see the progress I’ve made. Creating art is a solitary pursuit, so it also gives me a connection with the outside world. Constructive feedback is invaluable.
The thing I hadn’t thought about was that for many people, there was now a new more direct link to artists and a window onto their creative worlds. A bit of an escape that we all needed too, I think. It also opens up art to people that may not have previously ventured into an art gallery.
I’m very thankful to everyone that has taken the time to share my work, email thoughts of support or commented on social media. It’s certainly kept my spirits up and given me a reason to keep going. I keep a note of them to remind me.
These are just a few quotes from customers:
“Everything is lovely, Blakey Ridge particularly so. It is a view I have stopped and admired too. You’ve captured the essence of it so well. It will be going back to York, to my Mum, who I’m sure will love it as much as I do.”
“It's so beautiful and a lot of your pieces are some of our family's favourite places so I will definitely be expanding our collection. The hard part is choosing!”
“We walk in the Dales a lot, and I also love your work of Littondale & Kettlewell!”
“I’ve bought the 3 peaks for my husband for Xmas, and I am trying to support small businesses this year!”
“I wanted to buy something really meaningful.”
“I was looking for a piece of linocut art and as Whitby is special for me this piece was perfect.”
Local community
One of the highlights of the year has been the sense of community. We now have a street WhatsApp group. Living at the end of the street, I only knew my immediate neighbours. Now I know many more.
Connecting with nature
Nature has played a big part in keeping me sane, particularly at the start of the pandemic. I discovered my nan’s green fingers when I moved here. It’s my first place with a garden. I was soon to make my mark on it, growing plants from seed or adopting plants from friends. I realised that running my own business, had sidelined it a bit. I’d created a low maintenance garden plus in time off I wanted to get away from 'my office’.
My garden became my true sanctuary once more. I’m an early bird, particularly on lighter days. My early morning ritual was to make breakfast, gather my yoga mat, some blankets, my duvet jacket and wooly hat and take them out to my ‘sunny patch’. Simply some concrete slabs on breeze blocks, against my garage wall. I sit watching the sunrise, feeling its increasing warmth, while listening to and watching the birds.
In fact every coffee and meal of the day was out there. I made myself a table from some palette scraps and vintage table legs that I’d been meaning to do something with.
Grow
This year it seemed everyone was taking to their gardens to grow things. Although I don’t have a conventional veg patch I do like to dot courgettes and runner beans and things amongst my plants.
Lockdown 1 meant I was spending a lot more time in my garden. I love taking close up macro photographs of plants and nature, particularly first thing. I guess it’s my kind of morning meditation. I noticed plants growing in even more detail, my cherry red peony the most. Over the years my nan had given me plants from her garden, this is one. She’d been in a care home for a couple of years and Christmas 2019 was the last time I saw her. I suspect on a deeper level the peony was my connection with her. Sadly she died in August, just before her 99th birthday. In many ways I was glad it had come to an end, she never did want to be away from her garden. She certainly had a good innings!
Camping at home
While we weren’t allowed to stay away from home in lockdown 1 I thought, why not camp in my garden. Of course the birds woke me up very early but that was a magical experience and one I will most definitely take forward to 2021. Each time I recorded dawn chorus which I’ll share below.
Escaping to switch off
Changes to working patterns
For sanity I had to be flexible. I’m surrounded by work at home, so it’s harder to switch off. I live and work on my own and could be very isolating.
Getting outdoors
In a way I’ve been forced into making the most of things. Lockdown 1 and the summer was easier, as the days were longer and warmer. Although at that point I was in panic mode, reacting to the situation and thinking creatively about finding ways to generate an income. So in reality I didn’t get out that much. But what I could do was spend time in my garden or get out for a quick spin on my bike in the evening.
Making the most of things
I knew winter would be a whole different ball game. I can be grumpy about the thought of winter at the best of times. I love being outdoors, crave daylight and don’t deal with the cold very well, no matter how many layers I have on. I’d been going around saying ‘I hate winter’ and ‘winter lockdown is going to be awful’, with a big scowl on my face.
I read an article in the Guardian, Dreading a dark winter lockdown? Think like a Norwegian. It’s about your mindset of winter. I made myself flick the switch and look at the positives. I do love being at home making things, hunkering down with soups and stews and a documentary or film are good too.
But equally I realised the weather and daylight was going to be a challenge. Friends weren’t going to want to meet up in the rain or outside on a cold winter's evening.
Over winter I’ve been watching the weather forecast like a hawk. If I could flex my work around, it I would. Getting out in daylight hours, then making up time in evenings and weekends.
I wouldn’t usually fit 60 mile cycle rides in over winter. I realised that if I left just after first light, 8ish and got back just before sunset at 4ish, I could do it. I pack up my bike with lunch, snacks and a hot drink and lots of warm layers for an alfresco picnic. I’ve enjoyed the flexibility it’s given me to explore. The Yorkshire Wolds has been a particular favourite. There's something about the landscape that I find very grounding.
Walking has been similar. Some have been solitary but more often with friends when it was allowed. One of my favourite days was at Flamborough Head. It’s one of my favourite walks on the Yorkshire Coast. I left York at 7ish in the dark, driving across the Yorkshire Wolds to the rising sun. On arrival at Danes Dyke, the sun's warm first light on the chalk pebble beach was stunning. Matched only by the last light and a quick coffee on the same beach before driving home to the sun setting. You can’t beat a clifftop walk in the sunshine to the sound of the sea.
I’ve been wanting to do a linocut of Flamborough Head for a while but just haven’t worked out how to capture the essence of it. I did try one of the chalk sea stacks once but a friend said it looked like an iceberg! Not the effect I was looking for! The walk provided the inspiration I need and I’m going to have another go with fresh eyes.
Quality time with family
My mum and dad are my support bubble. Being 150 miles away, that may seem a bit daft but it's meant I've been allowed to stay overnight when I've visit them. It also meant I could treat them to a holiday. The first family holiday since I was 18! We had a fabulous week's holiday walking in the Yorkshire Dales.
Discovering new things
Art
Now I confess, my knowledge of art history is somewhat limited. Growing up, we were a practical making things family, rather than an arty one. Dry art history lessons at college where, dare I say it, boring. I like what I like, at face value and am interested in how something is made.
A friend tagged me in a post on Twitter, saying I’d like an account. It resonated. It's an account by a lovely writer who's sharing Eric Ravilious' life's work. A couple of people had remarked how my landscapes reminded them of Ravilious landscapes. Quite a compliment. Follow Ravilious1942 on Twitter. Other accounts I’ve enjoyed following are @HenryRothwell and @B_Strawbridge, I’ve found myself googling the artists' work they share and learning more about their work.
Music
Music is so emotive and has played a big part in my year. In lockdown 1, I discovered how much I loved violin music, such as these hauntingly beautiful tracks:
On the Nature of Daylight by Max Richter and Bab' Aziz by Armand Amar.
I found them quite an emotional release too.
Lockdown 2 was different. I’ve swapped from listening to Radio 2 to listening to Radio 6 and podcasts. It reignited all my memories of my London clubbing days. Singing and dancing is definately good for the soul!
A different kind of Christmas
By Christmas I was absolutely exhausted. I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard. I’d slotted in day trips but only had one whole week off all year. Down time was definitely needed.
I’d planned to go home to Stratford-upon-Avon for Christmas. Being in my mum and dad’s support bubble, I was still allowed to stay. But as the news of the virus got worse it didn’t seem like the right thing to do. For mum and dad the vaccine is just around the corner. I agonised over the decision, knowing his much mum loves Christmas.
My alternative Christmas began with a last minute dash around the supermarket.
It’s been my first Christmas at home and in York. On Christmas Day I met friends for a walk around York, stopping outside York Minster for an alfresco Betty’s mince pie and a flask of tea. I had traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve and a mix of Japanese and Thai on Christmas Day, plus of course the best bits, lots of cheese and crackers and nibbles.
The festive period has been a time for hibernation, consolidating my thoughts on the year, reclaiming my home from work, sleeping, baking, learning to knit, listening to a good audio book and doing my tax return!
I’m very grateful to friends that have looked out for me and checked that I’m ok.
I struggled a bit with New Year. As a friend has said, celebrating how 2021 was going to be better seemed a little premature and expectations of the year are high. We're still riding the storm. It's going to be tough.
On New Year's Day I listen to 'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse' by Charlie Mackesy. Find it on BBc Sounds here.
Many phrases resonated. These, in particular, stood out.
“We all need a reason to keep going, said the horse. What’s yours?”
“Look how far we’ve come”
“One of our greatest freedoms is how we react things”
“Learning to be in the present”
"Be kind to yourself"
Looking forward
Thoughts of what lies ahead in 2021 where a little overwhelming when I started to write this blog. Now I'm back to the mindset of taking just one day at a time.
Celebrating 5 years
June 2021 will mark my business being 5 years old. Redundancies can have silver linings. Apparently as little as one in 10 new businesses make it to the five-year mark. Not long to go!
Celebrating 50
I hope it will be possible to travel again soon. One of my passions in my 20's and 30's had been exploring the world. While I’d originally dreamed of a big adventure to Patagonia or New Zealand in 2021, I’ve more and more realised that I get as much joy from adventures closer to home. In the past 10 years I’ve discovered all the pleasures that overseas travel brings right here on my own doorstep. Plus I get to do it for work too!
Scotland and the Lake District are on my 2021 travel wish list. Both places I’ve spent time in walking and mountain biking before. I’d love to explore more with my artist head on, with a view to developing two new series of linocut prints. If camper vans weren’t quite so pricey I’d be off in one. A tent and Airbnb may have to do. Any hints and tips on places to go or stay would be welcomed.
Events and exhibitions in 2021
York Open Studios, York | 17, 18, 24, 25 Apr 2019, 10am to 5pm
Inspired by Gallery, The Moors National Park Centre, Danby, North Yorkshire Selected prints in York Printmakers group exhibition | 8 May to 7 June 2021
Summer Open Studios at my studio, York | Date tbc depending on restrictions.
York Printmakers Autumn Print Fair | 25 to 26 Sept 2021
Autumn Open Studios at my studio, York | November 2021, Date tbc.
Visual highlights of 2020
January to March 2020 - Pre-pandemic
Developing new Designs
Over Christmas 2019 I immersed myself in designing and carving new designs for York Open Studios and an exhibition at the North York Moors Centre in Danby.
In January and February I test printed them and started printing some of the editions. These are 3 of the videos I made that show each stage of the process.
Carved linocut blocks ready for printing - 25 Feb 2020
Hand printing mid grey for multi block linocut prints - 29 Feb 2020
Hand printing dark grey for multi block linocut prints - 5 March 2020
New linocut designs
Towards Roseberry, Lone Tree, Lealholm, St Abbs Head, Nidderdale, Ennerdale Water, Blakey Ridge towards Farndale and Yorkshire Wolds.
When the pandemic hit, I was about two weeks off finishing them.
Below are a few blogs about how I made some of the prints.
Lealholm - How I made Lealholm linocut print
Ennerdale - How I made Ennerdale Water linocut print
Nidderdale - How I made Nidderdale linocut print
Linocut workshops in my studio
Looking back at the 10 linocut workshops I taught in February and March. I must say, looking through the blogs about them seems like a different world. Longing for normality to return so that I can teach in this way again.
"My 3rd day of teaching linocut workshops this weekend. My cheeks hurt from smiling. Such an enthusiastic group and supportive and encouraging of each other. It was a very welcome escape from the world's surreal events."
16 March 2020 onwards - Everything changes
Lockdown 1 - 16 March to 10 May
York Open Studios cancelled. What next?
A couple of excerpts from my newsletter:
“In light of the Prime minister's announcement yesterday, sadly we have made the decision to cancel York Open Studios 2020."
"Last night I finished cleaning up from day 3 of teaching linocut workshops. A very welcome escape but hard to come back into the news. Last night knocked me for six.
I did look at all my part printed designs in the studio and think what's the point. I had such enthusiasm for them over the last few weeks. This upside down world and the uncertainty has messed up my head. I’ve received some lovely supportive messages. “You MUST keep going with your amazing prints! The world needs colour. So keep going!”
My first thoughts
Read more in my blog York Open Studios cancelled. What next?
Swallows
My swallow linocut print became a sign of hope and freedom.
Life's simple pleasures
Covid-19 Visors York project
Read my Covid-19 Visors blog.
Design Trust course and working it all out
Read more in my Diary of an artist and designer in Covid-19 blog.
April 2020
Virtual York Open Studios
Watching things grow
Dawn Chorus in Yorkshire
Holgate Windmill celebrates 250 years!
And we all queued to buy their flour.
Staying local and downtime
Local rides, York's empty streets, foraging for lunch, baking, making do and mend, gifts of kindness from friends and finding solace in nature,.
May 2020
Everything goes online
Improving my online shop and product shots.
Michelle’s garden diary
Garden camping and focusing on nature.
See more in my Michelle's Garden Diary blog.
Michelle's garden tour
First escapes after lockdown 1
Millington and Thixendale ride
Kilburn and Black Hambleton ride
June 2020
‘Imprints’, North York Moors National Park
A 3 min video showing some of my new designs that would have been exhibited at the North York Moors National Park Centre in Danby.
Nidderdale walk
Flamborough Head walk
July 2020
Launching my NEW online course - Learn how to make a linocut print.
Read more in my Lockdown silver lining - Learn how to make linocut prints at home on my NEW online course blog.
Ingleborough walk
New Ingleborough linocut print
New bird linocut print
Home grown
August 2020
New Yorkshire Three Peaks linocut prints
Inspiration trips to the Yorkshire Dales: Kettlewell, Arncliffe and Malham
See more in my Summer’s walking and cycling in the Yorkshire Dales blog.
New Littondale linocut print
September 2020
York Printmakers virtual print fair 2020
Read more in my York Printmakers virtual print fair 2020 blog.
A weeks walking holiday in the Yorkshire Dales
Ravenscar to Robin Hood's Bay walk along the Cleveland Way
New Yorkshire Coast mini series
Robin Christmas Cards
60th birthday gift for a friend in my cycling group
October 2020
New Kettlewell linocut print
New Yorkshire Dales mini series
Carving Yorkshire Dales lane inspired linocut print
A round up of my new Yorkshire Dales prints
York Printmakers creative challenge
October's theme was 'Autumn'. My new autumn hedgehog linocut print.
Navigation weekend at Kilnsey in the Yorkshire Dales
Putting my navigation skills into practice in Farndale, North York Moors
November 2020
Lockdown 2 and beyond - Editioning prints
Editioning prints that are low in stock has been a military operation! Each colour is printed separately with drying time in between. I’ve needed to keep a log to keep track.
A short demo of me working in my studio. I'm inking up a lino block and printing it with my etching press.
York Printmakers creative challenge
November's theme was 'Fire'.
I went all a bit deep and meaningful on this one. Inspiration struck while out cycling in the Yorkshire Wolds. What 'lights my fire' is being out in my bike exploring and making things with my hands, playing in my studio.
Making lino stamp Christmas cards
Read my Learn how to make simple stamped Christmas cards at home blog.
Sutton Bank and Gormire Lake, North York Moors walk
Yorkshire Wolds bike rides and walks
New colourways of my curlew linocut
A round up of all my linocut prints
Linocut prints of British landscapes and seascapes
December 2020
New Yorkshire Wolds mini series
Trying to get prints dry
Inks weren't drying fast enough in my print studio. So I' rigged up washing lines to hang them around the house! There really is no escape!
Flamborough Head walk
Sunrise to sunset.
December feature in York Press
Well that was a much longer blog than planned! Writing and visualising 2020 has certainly helped me see the year in a far more positive way.
As I’ve been editing this blog, it seems we’ve come full circle. Again in full lockdown.
I personally find January and February the hardest months of the year. I start to struggle with the cold dark days. At least in the last lockdown I spent every tea break in my garden and evening out on my bike. This one is going to be a challenge.
Daylight hours are precious for carving lino or printing. Artificial light is not the same.
With 2020 wrapped up I will be focusing on two things during Lockdown 3:
Creating new prints for York Open Studios in April.
Making a follow on online course: How to make multi-coloured linocut prints.
Spring IS just around the corner and with that carries HOPE for better times.
For now I am just focusing on one day at a time.
My thoughts are with anyone that is struggling with the latest news and lockdowns.
I’ll continue to share creativity and positivity from my studio, while we all look forward to spring.
Take care
Michelle
Let me know what you think...
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About the author
Michelle Hughes is a North Yorkshire landscape artist. Much of her work depicts the Yorkshire landscape and Yorkshire coast, including the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.
Michelle loves exploring the British countryside by bike or on foot, camera in hand, capturing ideas for her next linocut prints. Back in her garden studio, Michelle creates simple but stylised silhouettes based on her photographs, and hand carves these shapes into lino. She hand prints with an etching press, using oil-based inks to create tonal blocks of colour.
Michelle’s original linocut prints are limited editions.
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