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Michelle Hughes

5. Welcome to Sutton Hoo leaflet - linocut illustrations

Several of my linocut illustrations have been used for the ‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet.


On the cover is an illustration of Edith Pretty. Inside are illustrations of an Anglo-Saxon ship with a curlew, Tranmer House, the Sutton Hoo gold belt buckle, copper butterfly, nightingale bird and archaeologists excavating.


The leaflet gives visitor information and a map of walks in the grounds.

‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet showing linocut illustrations for National Trust’s place, Sutton Hoo
‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet showing linocut illustrations for National Trust’s place, Sutton Hoo

‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet showing linocut illustrations for National Trust’s place, Sutton Hoo
‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet showing linocut illustrations for National Trust’s place, Sutton Hoo


River with curlew and Anglo-Saxon ship linocut illustration

In the foreground is a linocut illustration of curlew wading in the mud flats of the estuary. In the background an Anglo-Saxon ship being is being rowed across the River Deben. The design shows the waves of the flowing water and clouds in the sky.


Close up detail of curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration on ‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet
Close up detail of curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration on ‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet


Planning the design for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration
Planning the design for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration

Carving the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration
Carving the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration

Video 1: Carving Sutton Hoo river with curlew and Anglo-Saxon ship linocut illustration

Video 2: Carving Sutton Hoo river with curlew and Anglo-Saxon ship linocut illustration


Carving the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration
Carving the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration

Video: Time-lapse carving Sutton Hoo river with curlew and Anglo-Saxon ship linocut illustration




Finished linocut block for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration
Finished linocut block for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration

Finished linocut block for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration
Finished linocut block for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration

Video: Inking Sutton Hoo river with curlew and Anglo-Saxon ship linocut illustration


Test printing the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration
Test printing the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration

Printed design and linocut block for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration
Printed design and linocut block for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration

Scanned linocut for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration
Scanned linocut for the Sutton Hoo curlew and Anglo-Saxon boat linocut illustration


Tranmer House, Sutton Hoo

A linocut illustration of Tranmer House at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk. It shows a silhouette from the back of the house with the sun’s rays emanating from behind.


Close up detail of Tranmer House linocut illustration in ‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet
Close up detail of Tranmer House linocut illustration in ‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet


Carving the Sutton Hoo Tranmer House linocut illustration
Carving the Sutton Hoo Tranmer House linocut illustration

Carving the Sutton Hoo Tranmer House linocut illustration
Carving the Sutton Hoo Tranmer House linocut illustration

Finished linocut block for the Sutton Hoo Tranmer House linocut illustration
Finished linocut block for the Sutton Hoo Tranmer House linocut illustration

Scanned linocut print for the Sutton Hoo Tranmer House linocut illustration
Scanned linocut print for the Sutton Hoo Tranmer House linocut illustration


Edith Pretty looking out of the window at Tranmer House, Sutton Hoo


Mrs Edith Pretty owned the Sutton Hoo estate near Woodbridge, Suffolk. In 1939 Edith asked archaeologist Basil Brown to investigate and excavate the largest of several Anglo-Saxon burial mounds on her property.


I created a linocut illustration of Edith Pretty looking out of her window at Tranmer House. The illustration shows views of the mounds in the distance through the sash windows.


Edith Pretty linocut illustration on ‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet
Edith Pretty linocut illustration on ‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet

Finished linocut block for the Sutton Hoo Edith Pretty linocut illustration
Finished linocut block for the Sutton Hoo Edith Pretty linocut illustration

Detail of linocut block for the Sutton Hoo Edith Pretty linocut illustration
Detail of linocut block for the Sutton Hoo Edith Pretty linocut illustration


Archaeology linocut illustration - Uncovering of the folk cemetery


The linocut illustrates modern day archaeology. It shows two archaeologists excavating a hanging bowl containing cremated remains.



Archaeology linocut illustration
Archaeology linocut illustration


‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet showing linocut illustrations for National Trust’s place, Sutton Hoo
‘Welcome to Sutton Hoo’ leaflet showing linocut illustrations for National Trust’s place, Sutton Hoo

See the step-by-step blogs about how I created each of the linocut prints for Sutton Hoo in the links below:



There are five more linocut illustrations which include King Raedwald, wild flower meadows, geophysics, grazing sheep and Basil Brown. These will be used later in the year for further Sutton Hoo marketing materials. I’ll share these as soon as I can.


Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this as much as I loved creating the linocuts.

Get in touch if you would like to chat about any commercial linocut illustration commissions.


Michelle

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Lorna Poole
Nov 17, 2023

How can there be so many views and so few comments?


I love this series - I do hope everything made it to print despite the difficult times that were ahead when you were working on this commission. There is a "simplicity" to your work here that meshes well with the ancients of Sutton Hoo - I think you hit just the right mark.


I'm an experienced beginner in linocut - it's become one of my favorite media. Your work inspires!


Cheers from PEI Canada


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Michelle Hughes
Michelle Hughes
Nov 30, 2023
Replying to

Hi Lorna

Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to write. I love working on that commission. It was quite a labour of love and took much longer than I imagined. I was really thrilled with the finished results. I never imagined for one minute they blew them up so big on banners and things. It's quite scary seeing every detail in even more detail. Not good for a perfectionist!  


It’s freezing in York this week. I suspect it's not warmer in Canada. Are you making your Christmas cards this year?


Sorry for my late reply, too. I didn’t get a notification and have just spotted it now.


Michelle

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