I am an artist and printmaker based in Yorkshire, UK, I create process-driven, contemporary artworks which explore my preoccupation with ordinary, overlooked and in-between places.
My work germinates from a fragmented collection of drawings, photographs, memories and lived experience, and evolves through printmaking processes such as etching, lithography and woodcut, which enable a unique visual language.
Material is important – carving, scratching and sanding back metal and wood reveals and covers up, helping to piece together fragments of ideas, distill and refine, and keep the physical act of making at the core of my practice. What results are re-imaginings – pieced together from snippets and fleeting glimpses of my everyday.
In recent work I have been exploring woodcut, using repetitive, meditative mark-making to reflect movement and fluidity, and exploring three-dimensional space – allowing the work to come off the wall and exploiting the natural movement of washi paper.
My work is held in public and private collections in the UK, including the Tate Library artist book collection. I trained at Kingston University, and have undertaken artist residencies at Intaglio Printmaker, UK, Mi-LAB, Japan, and a Post Graduate Lithography Fellowship at Leicester Print Workshop. Ever-hungry to learn and develop new print processes, my practice has developed through a symbiotic relationship with my career as a printmaking technician and tutor.
C.V.
> AWARDS
2018 Shortlisted artist for the Flourish Award for excellence in printmaking at West Yorkshire Print Workshop, awarded the Great Art prize.
2013 Awarded Grants for the Arts funding from Arts Council, England
> RESIDENCIES / TRAINING
2018 Artist-in-Residence, Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory (Mi-LAB), Kawaguchiko, Japan
2013-2014 Post-Graduate Fellowship in Stone Lithography, Leicester Print Workshop
2005-2006 Artist-in-residence, Intaglio Printmaker, London
> EDUCATION
2019 Education and Training Level 3 award, Kirklees College
2002-2005 Kingston University BA Fine Art
2001-2002 Exeter College, Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
> COLLECTIONS
Tate Library Artists’ Book collection and various private collections.
> TEACHING
I run short courses and workshops at various venues around the UK, including West Yorkshire Print Workshop, Hot Bed Press Printmakers Studio and Leicester Print Workshop. I have also run workshops for the Hepworth Wakefield, Double Elephant Print Workshop, Exeter, and The Millennium Gallery, Sheffield. You can see a list of upcoming workshops and events on the workshops page.
Exhibitions
> 2020
Woolwich Comtemporary Print Fair 2020 -The Online Edition – selected artist
Leeds Summer Group Show, July 2020. Selected online group exhibition.
> 2019
Unspoken Dialogues, solo show at Otley Courthouse, Jan 2019.
> 2018
Flourish Award, West Yorkshire Print Workshop, exhibition of shortlisted artists, Oct-Nov 2018
Recent Prints, Zillah Bell Gallery, Thirsk, duo exhibition with Sophie Layton, 7-21 Jul 2018.
The New Light Prize touring exhibition, Nov 2017-Jan 2019
The Hepworth Print Fair, Wakefield, 2-4 Mar 2018
> 2017
A Study in Stone, Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donnington, 30 Sept-22 Oct 2017
> 2016
The Masters: Etching, Bankside Gallery, London, 9-20 November 2016
Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, London, 17-20 November 2016
Lady Beck Open Studios, Leeds, 16-18 Sept 2016
Paired Apart, group show, Aire Place Studios, Leeds, 5 Aug-2 Sept 2016
Our Friends From the North, an exhibition of work by invited Zillah Bell Gallery artists, The Drawing School, Eton College, 25 Jan-5 Mar 2016
> 2015
Leeds International Contemporary Artist Book Fair, The Tetley, Leeds, 6-8 Mar 2015
> 2014
P2P 2014, Leicester Print Workshop, biennial exhibition of contemporary printmaking,
14 Oct-12 Dec 2014
Momentary Permanence, solo exhibition at West Yorkshire Print Workshop, 7 Jun-26 Jul 2014.
Drawn to It, group show exploring the drawing process as the basis of visual language, Water Street Gallery, Todmorden, 1 May-8 Jun 2014
Momentary Permanence-Works in Progress, solo exhibition at LCB Depot Print Room, Leicester, 8 Jan-28 Feb 2014
> 2013
Edited Highlights, group show, Eleven Gallery, Hull
16th International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair, University of Leeds, Mar 2013
> 2012
Making a Mark, duo exhibition with Sarah Du Feu, upstairs gallery, The Bowery, Leeds, 2012
Kaleid 2012, exhibition of artist books, The Art Academy, London
Bite 2012, Mall Galleries, London
Print, group show, Water Street Gallery, Todmorden
> 2011
Pushing Print, festival of Printmaking, Margate, Kent
Saltaire Arts Trail, Open Houses, Saltaire
Up Close, selected group exhibition of printmaking from across the UK, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey
Home from Home, exhibition of artist books alongside the 14th International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair, University of Leeds
> 2010
A4 Contemporary Printmakers Competition, runner-up, Wharepuke Print Studio, New Zealand, 2011
Artists Open Show 2010, Leeds Art Gallery
Spike Island Open Studios 2010, Bristol
Cabinet of Curiosities, exhibition alongside the 13th International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair, University of Leeds
> 2009
The London Group Open Exhibition, Menier Gallery, London
Artists Open Show 2009, Leeds Art Gallery
On Your Wall, Leeds Met Gallery
(sub)Missive, collaborative mail art book project, Corridor Gallery, University of Leeds
Impressions, group show by members of West Yorkshire Print Workshop, Huddersfield Art Gallery
Collaborate, group exhibition at South Square Gallery, Bradford
> 2008
Time and Space, exhibition of artist books, The Bowery, Leeds
> 2007
Works on Paper, joint exhibition with Aimee Day, R.K Burt Gallery, London
> 2006
Multiply, The Corn Exchange, Leeds
Originals ’06, Mall Galleries, London
> 2005
Lines of Investigation, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston Upon Thames
Kathryn Desforges Studio 