Monday, 18 June 2012

Artist of the Week - Hugh Ribbans

Hugh Ribbans produces woodcuts and linocuts, mixing heavily grained wood - often driftwood - and lino in his prints. Hugh will be exhibiting at the Brighton Art Fair.


Where did you train? What did training teach you and what do you wish it had taught you?
I trained at Canterbury College of Art in the early sixties when you had to pass an exam in everything from Life Drawing to Architecture - the training was heavily drawing-based and so I suppose that has stood me in good stead over the years - I would have liked a bit more of a commercial insight as I was destined for the commercial art world.

Is being an artist your only job, or do you have other employment?
I have been a designer/illustrator/printmaker since 1963 but now I am a full time printmaker.

One favourite living artist?
Peter Blake. He was at his Pop Art peak in the sixties and seventies when I was working in London advertising agencies in the Carnaby Street area. We went to his launch previews at all the galleries. He was and still is a constantly innovative creative practitioner.

One favourite historical artist?
Like many printmakers I am very much influenced by the work of Edward Bawden. He was a truly commercial artist but always holding on to a fine art pedigree.

What is the most interesting / fun job you have had?
I have been asked to produce many interesting linocut commissions - for a national brewer, a museum collection of stuffed animals and currently for the national fruit collection in Kent. I had a bit of fun with an enlarged linocut on a banner to feature on a lamp post on London's South Bank - of a green woodpecker - 25 feet deep and pecking at the post. Another fun job was redesigning Blackpool Tower Aquarium.

If you could collaborate with anyone living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
It would be daunting but inspirational to work with Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden on one of their famous murals.


At age 16 who most influenced your style?
I would spend hours looking at the bold poster work of Tom Eckersley.

What music are you currently listening to?
I am currently playing Dory Previn and the work of Eric Coates in my car.

How many hours do you waste on the internet each day?
The internet is a delicious curse.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
I am happy with my home base now but if I was younger then the Far East (Bali?) might appeal.

Where and what is your studio?
I have a studio/workshop in my house on Conyer Creek near Faversham in Kent. This is home to my Columbian press.

Do you have a good work/life balance?
I think maybe I am getting it right at last.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
When a print is going well - complete satisfaction. Until it is finished and then it's on to the next one to do it better.

What would your dream commission be?
A complete hand printed book with linocut illustrations and metal typesetting of the poems of John Betjeman.

If you could exhibit in any gallery in the world which would it be?
To achieve an improvement on 'Selected but not Hung' at the Royal Academy.

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David Rhys Jones - Image of the Day


'Prospect Cottage' - David Rhys Jones - Ceramic with transfer printing
12cms x 14cms
David Rhys Jones will be exhibiting at Brighton Art Fair in September

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Sunday, 17 June 2012

Nigel Hills - Image of the Day


'On The Beach' - Nigel Hills - Oils  50 by 40 cm.
"Is a painting of the skeletal remains of a fish found while walking along the beach at Goring"

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Saturday, 16 June 2012

Liz Willis - Image of the Day


Liz Willis - "Pebbles" brooch, Silver & hand stitched silk thread, with stainless steel brooch pin, inspired by the flat slate pebbles on Pendower Beach, Cornwall.

Forthcoming events:
Liz Wilis will be exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey NOW! and MADE12 in November

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Friday, 15 June 2012

Elaine Pamphilon & John Maltby at Yew Tree Gallery


One of the best galleries in the country is also one of the most remote. Go to the end of the country and keep going. The Yew Tree Gallery is beyond Penzance, beyond St Ives in a farmyard on a moor beyond Zennor. However its well worth a trip as Gilly Wyatt Smith has created a beautiful, light, warm gallery and stocked it with a lovely selection of work by top British artists and makers.


 We happened to be about for the Private View of 'Jubilation' (the weekend of the Queens Jubilee) and met the lovely John Maltby and Elaine Pamphillon.


 It was lovely to see Elaine's large paintings of the local West Penwith landscape, which look great in the gallery which looks over similar countryside.


We also met John Maltby having seen (and bought) his work in various galleries over the years. He progressed from functional to sculptural ceramics some years ago and now produces free standing sculptures of figures, angels, animals which to me seem inspired by ancient and celtic art.





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Norman Yap - Image Of The Day



Thrown, footed wide rimmed stoneware bowl by Norman Yap made from stained clay with matte blue green and black feldspathic glazes, raw glazed and once fired in reduction to 1220C. Up to 30cm wide and 25cm high.

Norman Yap will be exhibiting at MADELONDON in October and at MADE12 in November 

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Thursday, 14 June 2012

Ben Yates and Rolf Paints

Ben Yates, who is exhibiting at the Brighton Art Fair, was part of the Rolf Paints... the Diamond Jubilee BBC art project that was on TV last week.

Ben demostrated his artwork, along with other artists at Rolf Harris's pop-up art school in the Old Vic Tunnels. The artists had a day to put together a picture inspired by Her Majesty. Portraits, still lifes, abstracts and pop art was produced. Ben made his trademark Photo-Cubism with a Photomosaic portrait of the Queen made up from 286 different images of her and her family taken from the web.

The piece will definitely be coming to Brighton with him.

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